An introduction to using ProSim for business process simulation and analysis

This paper introduces PROSIM, a knowledge-based system for modeling processes, analyzing them using simulation and project management tools, and designing improved processes. Domain experts who are familiar with the various aspects of the system may be interviewed and process models can be developed based on the evidence collected using PROSIM. The tutorial focuses on the built-in simulation design support environment of PROSIM that enables building simulation models automatically from process models. The later part of the tutorial briefly covers extensions to PROSIM which permit information captured in PROSIM models to be leveraged for other analysis-project planning in a project management tool such as Microsoft(R) Project/sup TM/. A purchase order processing system example is described to demonstrate the utility of PROSIM.