Workflow-oriented System for the Management of Container Transportation: Challenges and Architecture

In this paper, we introduce a workflow-oriented system architecture for the processing of client requests (CRs) for container transportation. In the context of multi-transfer container transportation, the processing of CRs can be achieved by specific sequences of interdependent activities. These sequences need to be just-in time created. They also need to be adapted to deal with unexpected events that may occur. Workflow technology is used to model and to manage the processing of CRs. The creation and the adaptation of activity sequences are not trivial tasks since they require first, an optimized scheduling of a limited number of resources (and this should be done not without respecting CRs constraints); and second, a number of special workflow concepts and functionality to correctly manage activity sequences. Optimization models are involved to take care of the resource management and of the activity scheduling. Enhancements of workflow concepts and functionality for workflow management systems are investigated to deal with an activity sequence creation and adaptation. Finally, the proposed workflow oriented system architecture includes a rule processing part to reduce the timeconsuming manual interaction with the system.