FlowOpt: A Set of Tools for Modeling, Optimizing, Analyzing, and Visualizing Production Workflows

FlowOpt is a collection of modules built on top of enterprise performance optimization system MAK€ with the goal to bring unique modeling, optimizing, and visualizing capabilities for production workflows. FlowOpt is based on the concept of nested temporal network with alternatives used to formally describe alternative processes in workflows. The system supports visual design of nested workflows that can be connected with available resources in the enterprise. It then generates production schedules optimizing the on-time-in-full performance criterion. The obtained schedules can be analyzed to discover and “repair” inefficiencies of the enterprise. Finally, the schedules are visualized in the form of Gantt chart where the user can do any schedule modification interactively including selection of an alternative process or change of resource allocation.