Executing automotive test workflows with BPMN and web service orchestration in software-defined car manufacturing

Automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are facing the challenge of keeping their cars innovative for the customer by integrating new advanced software functions, e.g., to provide higher levels of automated driving. Nonetheless, internal business processes should stay efficient to support the transformation despite the increasing complexity caused by new information and car technologies. For engineering and production processes where interdisciplinary teams of engineers, software developers, and workers interact along the car life cycle, the concept of executable process models offers an opportunity for work streamlining and process automation by web service orchestration. This paper will shed light on using executable process models under the cross-industry Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) standard, along with the example of automotive test and diagnostic processes in smart manufacturing. We introduce a lean approach that includes the enterprise IT architecture for process modeling and the product car for process execution. Finally, we present our evaluation of the approach through a focus group with OEM experts.