Abstract
Most of the existing resource planning systems, such as Inventory Management System, Manufacturing Resource Planning System (MRP), and Enterprise Resource Planning System (ERP), are built upon some kinds of reference models, which guide programmers to design the systems in a more systematic way. The development of a flexible modeling method therefore becomes the most important task before an ERP system can be successfully implemented. Processes of the resource-planning systems can be considered as that the objects proceed some kind of communication or information carrying among all other objects existing in the processes. Based on these observations, this study first builds up the “Objects Dictionary” to describe all the objects appeared or are defined in the processes. Secondly, we decompose the business domain processes into sub-domain processes based on the methodology of Value Added Chain. These sub-domain processes will then be presented by using the “extended Event-driven Process Chain diagram (eEPC)”. Finally, we explore all the data clusters cited in the eEPCs to describe their attributes and relationship by using the “extended Entity-Relationship Model”. After this step, the common Reference Model of a Resource-Planning System can be established. With the reference model developed in this research, it hopefully can help system analyzers or programmers develop or construct a resource planning system based on their own needs. It can also provide guidelines for proceeding business process reengineering in order to develop an ERP system, which can be suitable for Taiwan’s industries.