bnl key workflows

Brookhaven Science AssociatesU.S. Department of Energy

Interlab 2009November 17, 2009

Courtney PattersonInformation Technology Division/Quality Management Office

BNL Key Workflows

Brookhaven Science AssociatesU.S. Department of Energy 2

Agenda Background Current Problems Solution Requirements Workflow Solution Demo Next Steps Questions/Comments


Background: What is SBMS? Web-based system of institutional policies and

procedures. Management System which provides

• A Requirements management process.• A Content development and management process.• Roles Management.• Content Delivery tool


Accessing SBMS from the BNL Homepage


SBMS Hierarchy


SBMS Hierarchy Policies;

• highest-level statements of BNL philosophy for conducting business.

Standards of performance; • performance expectations by which BNL carries out

its policies. Management System Descriptions;

• Summary of high-level lab-wide operating processes.


SBMS Hierarchy Subject Areas;

• Most common vehicle used to translate requirements into how work should be done.

BNL Manual; • Same function as SA but in old format.

Program Description;• Steering document developed when required by

clients, regulations, or the management system to further describe operations.


SBMS Hierarchy Facility Use Agreements;

• Identifies the operating requirements, roles and responsibilities for all aspects of our facilities.

Interim Procedures • Used when a procedure needs to be disseminated quickly.

They have an expiration date. Lessons Learned

• Documentation of experiences at BNL and other sites for the purpose of sharing in order to emulate good practices, avoid risky / poor practices.


What does the SBMS Manage?


1st Problem Employees find SBMS challenging.

• Information overload.• Navigation between procedures is difficult.

– Procedures are hard to read. Difficult to understand what they need to do.


SBMS’s Main Delivery Format1

2

3

4


2nd problem Procedures are stove-piped.

• Lab wide business process != Management System Procedures.

• Difficult to understand the “big” Lab wide business processes.


Stove Piped Procedures


High level Solution Requirements Deliver procedures in a Workflow format Simplicity (for end users)

• Simple user interface • No training required (intuitive)

Re-use• Extends the current SBMS data/information• Reuse current resources/infrastructure

– Hardware resources– Software resources


High level Solution Requirements BPMN compliant.

• Ability to share workflows with other Labs.• Ability to integrate with any BPMN compliant

software Budget friendly.


Workflow Solution Web-based process modeling/presentation tool. Integrates directly into our current infrastructure

• Built using .NET/CFML/MS SQL Server Multi-phase approach.

• First phase– Present workflows.

• Second phase– Manage workflows.

• Third phase– Automate workflows.


Workflow Solution cont. Relatively inexpensive

• Total of $3695 (Layout engine) Designed with extendibility in mind

• Supports .net thick client, web and mobile apps.– Possibility of pushing workflows to mobile devices

• Supports silverlight applications• Supports WPF applications


Demo Browsing a workflow Administrating a workflows


Where do we go from here Workflow change management tools/procedures

• Archiving• Versioning• Publishing controls

Optimization• Visual• Printing • Speed • Usability


Future Automation using a workflow engine eg;

• Windows Workflow Foundation• Skelta Workflow.NET• Intrafinity workflow• Home-brewed solution


Questions/Comments/Discussion ?

bnl key workflows

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