Process modeling: A systems engineering tool for analyzing complex systems

This paper presents a method for performing architectural analyses of complex systems-ofsystems using process modeling. A process is a series of actions undertaken by a system-ofsystems to produce one or more end results, typically products and services. The method applies to systems-of systems whose effectiveness and performance depend strongly on process timelines, such as distributed information systems, logistics systems, and manufacturing and distribution systems. A fundamental tool in this method is the development of a unified modeling language (UML) related view of the system-of-system processes of interest and the subsequent conversion of the UML related view into an end-to-end system-of-systems executable object-oriented simulation model. This method is illustrated by applying Regular Paper *Author to whom all correspondence should be addressed (e-mail: [email protected]). Systems Engineering, Vol. 7, No. 4, 2004 © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.† This article is a US Government work, and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.