VIMPM: A tool to support BPR in Integrated Manufacturing

Abstract

Information management systems should be reconfigured rapidly to respond to the change of requirements in Business Process Re-engineering domain. Inspired by the trend mentioned above, we propose the notion of VIMPM (Visual Integrated Manufacturing Process Modeler) and research the connotation of it. Firstly, we discuss the background of tools to support BPR with convenience of satisfying variable requirements. Secondly, the representing of BPR in XML for using in VIMPM is proposed, followed with a UML modeling methodology especially to direct the use of VIMPM. Thirdly we illustrate the BPR development approach of VIMPM in detail and give the use scenarios of it. Finally, a case study is presented to introduce how to use VIMPM in integrated manufacturing workflow design.