[hal-05715270] From BPMN to JAAMSIM: An Approach for Business Process Simulation in an Educational Context

Discrete-Event Simulation (DES) is traditionally used in areas such as manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare. However, it has also proven to be a powerful tool for simulating and analyzing educational experiences. Despite its advantages, DES models can be challenging to develop, interpret, and visualize, particularly for individuals without a background in simulation. This is due to the need for a deep understanding of event-based logic, complex data structures, and specialized software tools. Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) helps mitigate these challenges by providing a standardized and more accessible graphical representation of processes, making it easier to understand complex workflows, communicate process details, and identify areas for improvement. Nevertheless, while BPMN effectively visualizes workflows, it lacks the necessary computational logic and tools required for running simulations. This paper presents an approach for automatically converting BPMN diagrams into DES models, specifically executable simulation files in JaamSim. The proposed method involves extracting process information from BPMN diagrams, completing any missing execution-related details, and mapping BPMN elements to their simulation counterparts in JaamSim. By automating this transformation, the approach aims at simplifying the creation of valid simulation scenarios, making them more accessible to non-developers and non-simulation experts. To evaluate the feasibility of this approach, a case study was conducted to assess the accuracy and practicality of converting BPMN models into JaamSim simulations. This integration supports educators and decision-makers by enabling simulation-driven analysis of educational processes, facilitating insights, process optimization, and improved decision-making without requiring specialized expertise in simulation development.