This guide is based on the example of purchase request processing introduced in the HOPEX Business Process Analysisguide.

Organization of this process is modified to take account of urgent purchase requests.

HOPEX System Blueprint enables specification of information system evolutions necessary for implementation of the new version of this process.

The example used is based on the purchasing process of a company whose activity is boat rental and cruise sales.

Company purchasing processes are split between operational purchase processes and investment purchase processes. Operational purchasing processes include purchase of spare parts and raw materials required for boat maintenance and repair.

Availability of boats being a vital element of company activity, a specific organizational process is defined to process urgent purchases for boat maintenance and repair.

The purpose of the new organizational process for processing urgent purchase requests is to increase responsibilities of the purchasing assistant, so as to be able to send purchase orders at very short notice.

The purchasing assistant begins by analyzing the purchase request. If the amount is large, the normal process purchase request process is implemented.

If the product is available, the assistant sends the availability request.

If not, the assistant sends a purchase order to the supplier. The rest of the processing is carried out within the framework of the normal "Process Purchase Request" organizational process.

To allow the purchasing assistant to rapidly analyze the purchase request and send the order, he/she is provided with a new application enabling access to data concerning stock and suppliers.

The following system process diagram proposes a first draft of operation expected of the new application.

A product search is carried out from the referenced products repository.

If the product is referenced, stock is analyzed.

If stock is sufficient, a "Make available" request is activated and the process ends.

If stock is less than minimum stock, a purchase order is sent to the supplier.

If the product is new, search for a supplier and comparative study of prices is carried out. An order is then sent and the process ends.