Abstract: In order to control design changes effectively by using workflow techniques in cooperative airplane design,a configuration control process modeling method based on Petri net is developed.A coordination correlation model with structural and coordination relations among nodes is introduced and its mapping into a Petri net based configuration control process model is established.The design feedbacks with long period and large span can be avoided by employing the method through transferring the design changes to the corresponding designers timely.The deadlock and unreachability within the application of workflow techniques in configuration control are solved with the Petri net analysis.The effectiveness and applicability of the method is verified in digital mockup design changes by implementing an airplane general arrangement and coordination software prototype.