A new method to evaluate the specific and global advantage of a technology

Abstract

A new method is proposed for assessing a new technology, with reference to either the specific (internal) or the socio-economic advantage. The method consists in the fixation of the parameters that must be used for the assessment and the algorithm for their synthesis. The fixed parameters are technical and economic. For the internal advantage they are process reliability, process capability, real potential, flexibility, added product value in relation to materials and energy, and added product value in relation to work and amortization. For the external (socio-economic) advantage they are added value of induced production, induced investment, changes in global employment levels, change in the intellectual employment, internal and external environmental protection and safety costs, and changes in balance of trade of base products and of technology. The algorithms proposed are graphic and algebraic. The graphic method, using nomograms, involves the pairwise coupling of the parameters, by obtaining intermediate (or sub-) indices of the first and second level. The algebraic method uses formulae that also give intermediate values of the first and second level, then the two indices referred to the internal and external advantages, and finally the global advantage index. The algebraic method is the more accurate because the graphic method is sensitive to the scale chosen. Variations may be introduced in the method, especially in the weight of each parameter.