Title: Enhancing situational awareness on fragmented information in complex systems with workflow information network analysis

Authors: Lasse Metso; Salla Marttonen-Arola; Samu Linnimaa; Sini-Kaisu Kinnunen; Timo Kärri

Addresses: Industrial Engineering and Management, LUT University, P.O. Box 20, 53851 Lappeenranta, Finland ' Industrial Engineering and Management, LUT University, P.O. Box 20, 53851 Lappeenranta, Finland ' Industrial Engineering and Management, LUT University, P.O. Box 20, 53851 Lappeenranta, Finland ' Industrial Engineering and Management, LUT University, P.O. Box 20, 53851 Lappeenranta, Finland ' Industrial Engineering and Management, LUT University, P.O. Box 20, 53851 Lappeenranta, Finland

Abstract: In industrial contexts, information is usually fragmented into a complex network of organisations and systems. To develop their information management, the organisations need to obtain and maintain situational awareness of their workflows, and identify and understand relevant information and how the planned actions affect the system in the near future. This paper introduces workflow information network analysis, a managerial method for analysing and improving situational awareness in complex systems. The method is built on the principles of information management, product lifecycle management and value network analysis. A six-step process for applying the method is presented, and the validity of the method has been demonstrated with a case study in which the information flows of a networked aircraft maintenance organisation are analysed. The case study shows that the method enables the identification of discontinuities and bottlenecks in information flows, as well as produces suggestions for further development.

Keywords: situational awareness; workflow information network analysis; WINA; information flows; case study; aviation; aircraft maintenance; complex system; fragmented information.

DOI: 10.1504/IJISE.2020.112069

International Journal of Industrial and Systems Engineering, 2020 Vol.36 No.4, pp.577 - 590

Received: 07 Sep 2018
Accepted: 01 Jun 2019
Published online: 04 Jan 2021 *

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