Group for Applied Process Simulation (GAPS)

Computer Science

The Group for Applied Process Simulation (GAPS) develops virtual models that enable companies to analyze and optimize their manufacturing and logistics processes. We use a web-based integrated management system based on Petri nets, the Process-Simulation.Center (P-S.C). In this way, GAPS closes crucial voids in process management between scientific research, operational application and practical studies.

Education and research fields

  • Process simulation in logistics
  • Process simulation in production
  • Process simulation before investments
  • Process simulation in trade
  • Simulation of push and pull processes
  • Process simulation in teaching
  • Digital Twin

  • When documentation is no longer enough

    Successful companies master their business and production processes by systematically recording, prioritizing and optimizing them. Process models stimulate the creativity of employees when they illustrate complex processes in a compact manner and make problems visible.

    Then why do many companies use static images to represent dynamic processes? With higher Petri nets there is an established modeling language with which one can simulate created models and later even execute them. For this, however, you need suitable simulation software and the necessary know-how on how to create meaningful models.

    With the help of the P-S.C, processes can be designed and planned changes can be experienced in advance through comparative simulations without interfering with ongoing operations. This allows statements to be made about parameters such as times, inventories, costs and profit, as well as the effects of different prioritizations.

    GAPS develops models for very different operational scenarios. Every day we learn what is important when modeling, simulating and displaying the results so that these findings can also be easily implemented by practitioners.

  • Research and education unified

    As a research group at Hochschule Worms, it is important to us to pass on our latest results to our students. That is why GAPS regularly readjusts lectures. With case studies, we clearly show how our findings can be used in companies.

    Many students experience for the first time how complex the interaction in companies is. If you optimize in one place, the result will be worse in another. Experienced workers know this, students have to experience it first.

    In the last few years, we have been able to experience that more and more students carry this knowledge in their practical semester and in their thesis in companies, also use the P-S.C and in this way make an important contribution to knowledge transfer.

  • Making something good even better

    It is worldwide known that one can model and simulate dynamic systems very well with Petri nets - unfortunately almost only in specialist circles. This standardized method created a very practical basis:

    • Workflow management systems automate and accelerate operational processes.
    • Process Mining automatically reconstructs the underlying processes from the transaction data from ERP systems.
    • Flexible manufacturing systems are a key requirement for the industry of the future.

    In GAPS, we combine sensible concepts from other modeling languages such as swimlanes or a representation of the model parts that is as uniform as possible with Petri nets. The results are models that are child's play to understand - we tried it out in student courses. And when the simulated models control a small production plant, concepts such as the digital twin can be experienced by everyone.

  • Carlo Simon presenting the Process-Simulation.Center during SIMUL 2022 in Lisbon, Portugal
  • Carlo Simon presenting the Process-Simulation.Center during AKWI 2022 in Berlin, Germany
  • Stefan Haag presenting the contribution "Diktiere Deine Fachkonzepte! - Mit automatisierten Interviews Modelle erstellen" at the interdisciplinary research colloquium 2022 at the Hochschule Worms
  • Lara Zakfeld presenting the contribution "Forschung entlang einer Research Agenda für Process Simulation Dashboards" at the interdisciplinary research colloquium 2022 at the Hochschule Worms
  • Carlo Simon presenting the contribution "Stratification Of Timed Petri Nets At The Example Of A Production Process - New Approaches" during ECMS 2022 in Ålesund, Norway
  • Lara Zakfeld presenting the contribution "Can Simulation Prevent Companies from the Bullwhip Trap?" during SIMUL 2021 (online)
  • Carlo Simon presenting the contribution "Anforderungen an hochintegrierte Managementsysteme" (Requirements for Highly Integrated Management Systems) during AKWI 2021 (online)
  • Lara Zakfeld presenting the contribution "Research-Agenda for Process Simulation Dashboards" during ECMS 2021 (online)
  • Carlo Simon presenting the contribution "Showing the Advantages of Pull over Push Production with the Aid of Petri Nets" during EMISA 2021 (online)
  • Stefan Haag presenting the contribution "A Case-Study to Teach Process-Aware Information Systems" during EMISA 2021 (online)

Publications