Model-based systems engineering for business process management: Leveraging ARCADIA for production system design

The digital transformation of production systems intensifies the challenge of aligning dynamic business processes with rigid technical architectures, often resulting in misalignment, poor traceability, and costly redesigns. Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) provides a robust methodology for tackling these challenges by ensuring information integrity and coherence across both design and operational phases. This paper addresses this by proposing a novel integration of Business Process Management (BPM) with MBSE. Utilizing the ARCADIA methodology and Capella toolset, a structured approach for embedding BPM workflows into system architecture models is introduced. The approach supports phase-aligned mapping and includes: Operational Analysis, which transforms actors into operational capabilities (OEBD/OCB diagrams); System Analysis, which derives and establishes requirements from process tasks (SAB/SDFB diagrams); and the Logical Architecture, which decomposes workflows into modular subsystems (LCBD). Using a conceptual manufacturing use case of an OEM production system, a holistic understanding of system and subsystem integration within a BPM context was explored to improve communication, data-driven decision-making, and overall performance in real-world scenarios. This work advances MBSE practice by connecting BPM and systems engineering, offering managers a model-centered approach to enhance decision-making, agility, and operational integrity in complex production environments.