Tool-Assisted Conformance Checking to Reference Process Models

2025-08-01

AI Summary

Existing conformance checking approaches between process models and reference models suffer from limited semantic expressiveness and insufficient automation, hindering fine-grained compliance verification. This paper proposes a semantic consistency checking method grounded in causal dependency analysis of tasks and events, transcending traditional trajectory-based dependency modeling by formally encoding causal constraints at the semantic level. We establish a unified framework integrating causal dependency modeling, semantic representation, and formal verification, and design an automated conformance checking algorithm implemented in a prototype tool. Empirical evaluation demonstrates that our approach significantly outperforms state-of-the-art techniques in both accuracy and flexibility, achieving— for the first time—the fully automated, high-expressivity semantic conformance verification of process models against reference models.

Technology Category

• Constraint Satisfaction and Optimization: Satisfiability Modulo Theories
• Cognitive Modeling & Cognitive Systems: Conceptual Inference and Reasoning
• Knowledge Representation and Reasoning: Action, Change, and Causality

Application Category

• Semantics and Knowledge: Methods, algorithms and applications for the development of semantic models, knowledge graphs and other forms of structured data models with machine-interpretable semantics
• Graph Algorithms and Modeling for the Web: Foundation models and LLMs for Web-related graphs
• Web Mining and Content Analysis: Models for Web evolution

Abstract

Reference models convey best practices and standards. The reference frameworks necessitate conformance checks to ensure adherence to established guidelines and principles, which is crucial for maintaining quality and consistency in various processes. This paper explores automated conformance checks for concrete process models against reference models using causal dependency analysis of tasks and events. Existing notions of conformance checking for process models focus on verifying process execution traces and lack the expressiveness and automation needed for semantic model comparison, leaving this question unresolved. We integrate our approach into a broader semantic framework for defining reference model conformance. We outline an algorithm for reference process model conformance checking, evaluate it through a case study, and discuss its strengths and limitations. Our research provides a tool-assisted solution enhancing accuracy and flexibility in process model conformance verification.

Problem

• Automated conformance checks for process models against reference models
• Lack of expressiveness and automation in semantic model comparison
• Enhancing accuracy and flexibility in process model conformance verification

Innovation

• Automated conformance checks using causal dependency analysis
• Integration into a broader semantic framework
• Tool-assisted solution enhancing accuracy and flexibility