International Journal of Production Research, Vol. 45, No. 1, 1 January 2007, 103–141 Enriched multi-process modelling in support of the life cycle engineering of Business Processes K. A. CHATHA, J. O. AJAEFOBI and R. H. WESTON* MSI Research Institute, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK (Received December 2005) A new approach to enterprise modelling is described that facilitates the reuse of multi-perspective models of Business Process networks. The approach has been designed to advance current best practice when engineering change to interdependent Business Processes of types commonly deployed within Manufacturing Enterprises. The approach is unique in the way it maintains coherence between (1) conventional enterprise models, used primarily to represent graphically (at multiple levels of abstraction) relatively enduring properties of Business Process networks; and (2) dynamic models of selected segments of a parent Business Process network, which can be computer-executed via conventional simulation modelling and workflow modelling technology. Thereby, context-dependent dynamic models can be used to replicate and analyse historical patterns of enterprise behaviour, and predict and analyse possible future patterns of enterprise behaviour, should selected elements and parameters of the modelled Business Process network be changed. The paper also considers ‘needed decision support capabilities’ during Business Process Reengineering and Business Process improvement projects. In so doing, it collates those decision support requirements identified into a generalized description of the life phases of such projects. This generalized description was used to help structure the design of the new enterprise modelling approach. Furthermore, it is used to help illustrate an example application of the new modelling approach. Keywords: Multi-process modelling; CIMOSA; ME processes; Enterprise modelling; Simulation modelling; Workflow modelling; Life cycle of business processes 1. Introduction 1.1 Process orientation in manufacturing organizations Manufacturing Enterprises (MEs) are man-made organizations composed of people and technical resource systems. Through their lifetime, MEs are designed (and changed), and this requires complex decision-making. Most MEs face uncertain competitor impacts: as new and old competitor MEs improve the functionality and aesthetics of products, reduce product costs and improve their (temporal and spatial) availability. Customer requirements may change unpredictably, as can *Corresponding author. Email: R.H.Weston@lboro.ac.uk International Journal of Production Research ISSN 0020–7543 print/ISSN 1366–588X online ß 2007 Taylor & Francis http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals DOI: 10.1080/00207540600607150