Operational Performance Indicators Research Articles

Does the Adoption of Planning and Control Tools Influence Performance? Opinions of Grantors and Grantees About Non-profit Projects

This study analyzes whether a positive association exists between foundations' adoption of accounting control tools and the perceived economic and social perfor- mance. Data are collected through a survey addressed to both decision-makers of Italian banking foundations (IBFs) and grantees that received project-related dona- tions from the same IBFs. Results show a positive association between the adoption of selected planning and control tools (i.e., definition of project budget, in-progress monitoring, and utilization of operating performance indicators) and performance. Meanwhile, a second set of more complex tools (i.e., ex-post valuation of activities, direct operative support offered from foundations to their grantees, and social key performance indicators) records a mixed association with social performance and a negative association with economic performance.

Precision planter monitoring system based on mobile communication network

AbstractSowing is an important link in agricultural production and the basis for ensuring high yields and bumper harvests. Agriculture requires precision plows with good performance and stable work. However, the seeding process is in a completely closed state, and the operator relies mainly on experience to judge the operating state and performance of the plow. The purpose of this study is to analyse the analysis and research methods of the precision planter monitoring system based on mobile communication technology. In this study, a relatively advanced target detection algorithm based on prediction and mobile communication technology is adopted. The Kalman filter is applied to the precision planter monitoring tradition, in order to realise a more complete and customisable automatic monitoring system. The intelligent monitoring system and the corn precision planter can realise the stepless regulation of the planting spacing within 10–30 cm through the experimental design of three plant spacing parameter schemes of 10 , 20 and 30 cm. Its various operational performance indicators have met the standards stipulated by the state.

Powertrain Design and Energy Management Strategy Optimization for a Fuel Cell Electric Intercity Coach in an Extremely Cold Mountain Area

Facing the challenge that the single-motor electric drive powertrain cannot meet the continuous uphill requirements in the cold mountainous area of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, the manuscript adopted a dual-motor coupling technology. Then, according to the operating characteristics and performance indicators of the fuel cell (FC)–traction battery hybrid power system, the structure design and parameter matching of the vehicle power system architecture were carried out to improve the vehicle’s dynamic performance. Furthermore, considering the extremely cold conditions in the Winter Olympics competition area and the poor low-temperature tolerance of core components of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) under extremely cold conditions, such as the reduced capacity and service life of traction batteries caused by the rapid deterioration of charging and discharging characteristics, the manuscript proposed a fuzzy logic control-based energy management strategy (EMS) optimization method for the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), to reduce the power fluctuation, hydrogen consumption and battery charging/discharging times, and at the same time, to ensure the hybrid power system meets the varying demand under different conditions. In addition, the performance of the proposed approach was investigated and validated in an intercity coach in real-world driving conditions. The experimental results show that the proposed powertrain with an optimal control strategy successfully alleviated the fluctuation of vehicle power demand, reduced the battery charging/discharging times of traction battery, and improved the energy efficiency by 20.7%. The research results of this manuscript are of great significance for the future promotion and application of fuel cell electric coaches in all climate environments, especially in an extremely cold mountain area.

The Effectiveness of No­Till Sowing and Minimal Tillage in the Cultivation of Corn for Grain

It was noted that technologies of direct sowing No-till and sowing with minimal soil tillage Mini-till play an increasing role in transferring crop production to a new technological level. The comparison of the efficiency of cultivating corn for grain when using different tillage and sowing technologies revealed the inconsistency of the scientific research results.Research purpose To compare the cost-effectiveness of two technologies for cultivating corn for grain: Mini-till and the traditional one. (Materials and methods) The advantages and disadvantages of the traditional cultivation of corn for grain were considered in comparison with No-till and Mini-till sowing.Results and discussion The authors carried out field studies of the technology based on minimal tillage and minimum organic fertilizers and used for seven years in Derevyanko V.I. peasant farm (Krasnodar Krai). As a result, the operational and technological performance indicators were determined for Optima TFmaxi direct seeder aggregated with John Deere 8310RT tractor and other machines used for the main technological operations. The volumes of technological materials used were determined. A systematic analysis of the economic efficiency sources was carried out at two levels: machine and tractor fleet, technology in general.Conclusions It was determined that compared to the traditional technology, Mini-till ensures a 49-percent decrease in the labor intensity of mechanized operations, though results in a 1-percent increase in fuel consumption and a 69-percent rise in unit operating costs, which is, though, offset by a 3-ton-per-hectare, or a 43-percent, increase in the productivity of corn for grain.

Proposing energy performance indicators to identify energy-wasting operations on big time-series data

With the widespread of the internet of things (IoT) and smart metering, more and more time-series data are being collected. However, building energy managers cannot easily interpret the fluctuating energy data. There is a need for readable indicators of building operations to identify energy wasting with time-series data. Improving the management of energy-consuming equipment is a low-cost strategy to reduce building energy consumption. This study proposes three energy performance indicators (EPIs) for operations of office buildings with domain knowledge on time-series data. Then, for each building, these EPIs are calculated on its time-series energy data. To demonstrates the actual performance of the building among its peer buildings, these proposed EPIs are further rated by comparing with the values of its similar buildings. Based on the psychological motivation that once acknowledged that they were just a little behind of their peers, people would improve their behavior, this study calculates the energy savings of small improvement in operations for low-performance buildings with a linear method. This study is fulfilled on BDG2 datasets that contain not only the time-series data but also the meta-data of 1636 non-residential buildings. The results show that the proposed EPIs can uncover the energy performance of a building in different time segments. The case study of low-performance buildings demonstrates that the improvements of EPIs to medium levels can save 13.0% to 29.1% energy for according periods. The proposed EPIs can serve as an extension of energy benchmarking and help building managers to understand the energy efficiency of operations on time dimension intuitively.

Revitalising project management office operations in an engineering-service contractor organisation: a key performance indicator based performance management approach

PurposeExisting studies on project performance improvement mainly investigate project management (PM) execution processes. Limited publications investigate the project management office's (PMO) proficiency in facilitating proper PM practice. This paper identifies the key performance indicators (KPI) of PMO operations and develops a KPI-based performance management system (KPMS) for revitalising PMO performance for an engineering-service contractor (ESC).Design/methodology/approachA four-phase study was initiated at an ESC in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T). Phase-1 established historical project performance and PMO challenges via documentary analysis. Empirical data from the PMO staff and management was acquired at Phase-2 to determine PMO process value-drivers and strategic roles. Phase-3 comprised the development of a modified PMO process and the KPMS, whereas Phase-4 evaluated the efficacy of the PMO process and the KPMS framework in a trial period.FindingsThe ESC's existing PMO process lacked significant value-drivers of its PM practice. The company also overlooked strategic PMO roles. Trial implementation of the modified PMO process achieved improved project performance, which stakeholders attributed to the value-driven processes and guidance provided by the KPMS. The KPMS, when used in tandem with Earned Value Management (EVM) index score review revealed core performance aspects that could facilitate continuous improvement of the PMO process at the ESC.Practical implicationsFindings provide an adequate basis for policy creation regarding PMO performance evaluation and guidance for companies contemplating a similar endeavour. A viable model for PMO performance management and improvement is proffered. The findings and the model would provide a platform for subsequent research in the areas of PMO development and business process improvement.Originality/valueThis is the first study conducted to obtain management and practitioners' inputs on developing a PMO performance management framework in a project-based contractor organisation in T&T. Various PMO challenges and implications of improvements specific to engineering-service contractors and similar organisations were determined.

Relationship between Enterprise Financing Structure and Business Performance Assisted by Blockchain for Internet of Things Financing Mode.

Financing structure is an important and very complex issue in the financial theory and the rights and obligations of relevant stakeholders of enterprises are also concentrated in the financing structure. Therefore, the financing structure has a significant impact on the value of enterprises. A reasonable financing structure is conducive to standardizing the behavior of enterprises and improving the value of enterprises. The change of corporate financing structure is often used as a signal to external investors about the company's future income expectations, especially because the financing structure has a certain impact on the company's performance, which makes the problem of financing structure more valued by the theoretical and financial circles. For the empirical information about company financing, this paper explores the influencing elements of the company's running overall performance assisted with the aid of the blockchain, and the net of matters provides a chain model and constructs the operating performance indicators according to the comprehensive score. We select the commercial credit financing rate, short-term loan financing rate, long-term loan financing rate, debt financing rate, equity financing rate, and endogenous financing rate. The control variables are total capital, ownership concentration, and average age of the company. The conclusion is drawn by regression analysis. Commercial savings financing rate, fairness financing fee, and endogenous financing fee are positively correlated with the working performance; short-term loans and average age of the company are negatively correlated with the operating performance; and long-term loan financing rate, bond financing rate, and equity concentration are not significantly correlated with the operating performance.

In-Field Route Planning Optimisation and Performance Indicators of Grain Harvest Operations

Operational planning, automation, and optimisation of field operations are ways to sustain the production of food and feed. A coverage path planning method mitigating the optimisation and automation of harvest operations, characterised by capacity limitations and features derived from real world scenarios, is presented. Although prior research has developed similar methods, no such methodologies have been developed for (i) multiple field entrances as line segments, (ii) the feasibility of stationary and on-the-go unloading in the headland and main field, (iii) unloading timing independent of the full bin level of the harvester, and (iv) the transport unit operational time outside the field. To find the permutation that best minimises the costs in time and distance, an artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm was used as a meta-heuristic optimisation method. The effectiveness of the method was analysed by generating simulated operational data and by comparing it to recorded data from seven fields ranging in size (5–26 ha) and shape. The implementation of controlled traffic farming (CTF) in the coverage path planning method, but not with the recorded data, resulted in a reduced risk of soil compaction of up to 25%, and a reduction in the in-field total travel distance of up to 15% when logistics was optimised simultaneously for two transport units. A 68% increase in the full load frequency of transporting vehicles and a 14% reduction in the total number of field to storage transports was observed. For fields located at outermost edges of the storage facility (>5 km), the increase in full load frequency, average load level, and decrease in in-field travel distance resulted in a reduction in fuel consumption by 7%. Embedding the developed coverage path planning software as a service will improve the sustainability of harvest operations including a fleet of one to many harvesting and transporting units, as the system in front of the vehicle operator calculates and displays all required actions from the operator.

Maintenance concept for the Extremely Large Telescopes

The maintenance concept provides the basis for overall dependability design requirements for Extremely Large Telescopes (ELTs), such as the European Southern Observatory’s ELT, the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT), and the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT). The maintenance concept contains the planning of the maintenance and support policy for the complete operational system of the ELTs. The way in which the maintenance concept was developed in the ELTs is shown, and the similarities and differences in the way the operational objectives will be achieved is identified. The methodology is based on explaining seven common points (maintenance philosophy/levels; maintenance types and strategies; designing for dependability: reliability, availability, and maintainability; organizational structure and responsibilities for maintenance operations; maintenance and configuration management; key performance indicators for operations; and challenges, opportunities, and lessons learned) and condensing the knowledge during the process of generation and application of the maintenance concept.

An empirical investigation of performance assessment of Indian healthcare industry

PurposeThe purpose of the study is to measure the performance of Indian hospitals, both operationally and financially, by using hospital KPI's. The assessment is predominantly done by linking it to the existing Lean practices in Indian hospitals.Design/methodology/approachAn empirical study based on cross-sectional survey of hospital managers and specialists in various private healthcare facilities across India was conducted to validate the proposed Lean framework. From an extensive literature survey, the authors identified quality, delivery, efficiency, accessibility and patient centeredness to be the main operational performance (OP) indicators for hospitals. Business or financial performance was measured based on parameters which are average revenue per occupied bed (ARPOB), earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) and operating revenue. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was carried out using a specialized technique, called Structural Equation Modelling(SEM) and an explicit factor structure was hypothesized.FindingsManagement commitment towards Lean in hospitals is statistically proven to have impacted operational and financial performance. However, leanness in technology and business processes showed no statistical significance on either operational or financial performance parameters. Hospital stakeholders showed statistical significance on though it had no impact on the financial performance. Results obtained from the statistical analysis indicate a positive impact of hospital Lean practices on timely delivery of services and improved service quality. Efficiency, accessibility of services and patient centered behavior in hospital operations could not be statistically proven to have impacted the financial performance.Social implicationsEffectiveness of Lean management (LM) principles in improving hospital operations is largely dependent on patient centered behavior. Empowered employees who are trained to add value from a customer view point, make hospital operations safe and improved. Properly trained and communicated employees who are committed to quality improvements can make a positive impact on patients' quality of life and thus positively impact the society. The study lists ways to attain the required outcomes.Originality/valueThis paper is among the very few that has attempted to suggest ways to link implementation of Lean practices more effectively in Indian hospitals to improve hospital performance at operational and financial levels.

Factors Affecting Operational and Financial Performance Indicators of Rooms Division in Four and Five-Star Hotels in Cairo

Factors Affecting Operational and Financial Performance Indicators of Rooms Division in Four and Five-Star Hotels in Cairo

Introducing variance-based global sensitivity analysis for uncertainty enabled operational and economic aircraft technology assessment

Assessing the efficacy of aircraft and technologies is a crucial step in the aeronautic product development. Due to their prospective nature, such analyses are subject to various uncertainties, which decrease their transparency and can act as a barrier for innovation. Therefore, a comprehensive and systematic inclusion of uncertainties is needed. For the use case of this paper being Hybrid Laminar Flow Control (HLFC), these comprise a number of inputs from different domains such as the design, operation, environment, or economics, leading to the underlying research question: Which parameters contribute to what extent to the output uncertainty of HLFC efficacy? To answer this, this paper introduces variance based global sensitivity analyses (GSA) in combination with a discrete event simulation framework. Considered outputs of the assessment comprise the Net Present Value (NPV) as an economic metric as well as the fuel efficiency as an operational performance indicator. A first monte-carlo simulation revealed an equivocal assessment outcome with ΔNPV values ranging from −$11M up to +$22M. Results of a subsequent GSA reveal the cruise mach speed being the dominant element (39%) in this overall uncertainty, followed by the lack of knowledge in specific fuel consumption penalty (23%) and overall drag reduction potential (9%). Furthermore, this study includes an applied comparison of different GSA methods, i.e. Fourier Amplitude Sensitivity Test and the Sobol' method. While computed sensitivity indices are fairly equal among all alternatives, the lack of quantification of higher order terms of certain methods may pose a disadvantage if interaction effects are high. The contribution of this study helps to direct further research and development efforts regarding HLFC, e.g. to focus on a robust and aerodynamically less sensitive airfoil design. More generally, the use of GSA methods and further uncertainty quantification efforts in prospective assessments can significantly improve the trust in the analysis and with that, help in terms of a commercially successful HLFC development.

The relationship between Intensive Care Unit Length of Stay information and its operational performance

The increasing demand for Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds requires efficient admission, discharge, and care processes. These efforts require predictions of Length of Stay (LOS) values; however, it is unclear how accurate these predictions need to be. This study investigates the relationship between the accuracy level of LOS predictions and operational performance indicators. A discrete event simulation model is developed to model the ICU patient flows. A linear function of actual and simulated LOS values is used to measure the accuracy level of the predictions. Multiple configurations of patient mix and patient waiting threshold were included in the simulation scenarios. Performance indicators are the average waiting time of patients for an ICU bed and overall admission ratios. Further statistical tests were carried out to evaluate the significance of the results. Results suggest that inaccurate LOS predictions overestimated both the average waiting time of patients for an ICU bed and overall admission rates which can have several quality and performance implications for hospitals. The gaps increased when more elective patients were included in the patient mix. Moreover, higher waiting thresholds (i.e., the maximum amount of time a patient will wait for an ICU bed) yielded higher values in both performance indicators.

Techno-economic assessment of post-combustion CO2 capture using aqueous piperazine at different flue gas compositions and flowrates via a general optimization methodology

An overall techno-economic assessment of a post-combustion CO2 capture process using aqueous piperazine is presented. A two-step techno-economic optimization approach is developed and implemented. First, two-objective technical optimization problems are solved at different combinations of CO2 capture efficiencies and CO2 concentrations in the flue gas, which aim at minimizing the specific equivalent work while maximizing the volume-based productivity of the capture process. Increasing minimum specific reboiler duties between 2.4 and 2.9 MJthkgCO2captured−1 are obtained for decreasing flue gas CO2 concentrations between 33 and 4 vol%, on a dry basis, with absorber packing heights below 10 m. Then, costs are computed at the technical optimal conditions as a function of the CO2 capture efficiency, flue gas flowrate and CO2 concentration. As a result, maps of minimum cost of CO2 captured, of minimum cost of CO2 avoided, and of minimum cost of CO2 generated by the CO2 point source are obtained, as well as of the associated optimal operating conditions and performance indicators of the capture process, which allow to assess the economic feasibility and performance of the capture process under different cost scenarios and assumptions when applied to different flue gas compositions and flowrates typical of industrial CO2 intensive point sources.

Effects of Abnormal Weather Conditions on the Performance of Hotel Firms

Weather is one of the critical factors that influence tourists’ destination choices and activities. Apart from ambient temperature anomaly, rain anomaly is also an important factor considered by tourists when they plan and modify their vacation and holiday trips. This study confirms the important role of abnormal weather conditions in explaining hotel performance, such as occupancy, average daily rate, and revenue per available room. Moreover, operational performance indicators are observed to exhibit dynamic patterns in response to abnormal weather conditions in accordance with different types/classes of hotels. Evidence indicates that tourists prefer to stay at full-service hotels with complete facilities rather than at hotels with limited facilities and services during an abnormally heavy rain situation. Therefore, the findings of this research suggest a useful determinant (i.e., weather changes) of revenue management practices for hotel firms to maximize their operating performance.

The redesign of blue- and white-collar work triggered by digitalization: collar matters

The implementation of digital technologies in the context of Industry 4.0 radically changes methods of production and thereby the jobs of blue-collar workers. Although the work design effects of digitalization on the operator 4.0 have been explored in the existing literature, less is known about the simultaneous effects on white-collar work and the underlying (re)design process of human work including the factors that shape this process. To address this gap, we performed an in-depth industrial case study of an organization in the process of digitalization. Our findings confirm the concurrent impact of digitalization on blue- and white-collar work and suggest that its human implications highly depend on the extent to which, and at what moment, human factors are considered during the design and implementation process. Where work design knowledge lacked, the motivation of system designers turned out to be an important individual factor to realize favorable work design outcomes. At the organizational level, results show the importance of early involvement of system users and incorporating social performance indicators in addition to operational performance indicators in the statement of project goals. Our findings provide important empirical input for the further development of human-centric models and theories that integrate the challenges and opportunities for blue- and white-collar workers that are emerging when adopting digital technologies.

Using the Process Digital Twin as a tool for companies to evaluate the Return on Investment of manufacturing automation

The fourth industrial revolution is gaining momentum, but still lacks full realization. Several studies suggest that many companies around the world have begun the digital transformation undertaking, but most are still far from full adoption and yet fail to see the full economic potential, being stuck in what has been called "pilot purgatory”. Digitalization is largely recognized as an accelerator and enabler for full automation in manufacturing, but companies are still struggling to assess the return on investment and the impact on operational performance indicators. Therefore, companies, especially SMEs characterized by dynamic, high-value, high-mix, and low-volume contexts, are reluctant to invest further. By incorporating simulation, data analytics and behavioral models, digital twins may also be used to support automation solutions ramp-up, demonstrate their impact evaluation, usage scenarios, eliminating the need for physical prototypes, reducing development time, and improving quality. Few forward-thinking companies are pursuing the digital transformation path, while the majority are clipping the wings of a transformation that is essential for a sustainable manufacturing. This paper describes a theoretical approach to exploit the digital twin technology to gather insights towards a realistic economical assessment of full automation solutions, to back and encourage investments to realize the potential of the digital manufacturing transformation. The approach is being tested under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No. 958363, which provides an opportunity to assess how the various components of the method are constructed, how complex they are, and what level of effort is required, using a practical example.

The impact of the COVID 19 pandemic on peer to peer accommodation businesses: The case of Airbnb

Aim/purpose – This study aims to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on peer-to-peer accommodation (P2PA), investigate the potential factors related to or- ganizational resilience based on resilience resources and consumer threat response frameworks, and revisit the tourism disaster management framework. Design/methodology/approach – The operational Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) were analyzed in relation to host professionalism (organizational resilience) and property exposure to social contact (consumer threat response) for 23,334 properties available via the Airbnb platform. A regression model was proposed to estimate the impact of government policies on P2PA business performance. Findings – The revenue, the occupancy rate, and the number of active properties decreased by –59.1%, –41.3%, and –20.4%, respectively. Professional hosts and proper- ties offering less social contact showed lower declines in revenue and occupancy rate and their proportion in properties that survived 12 months after the pandemic breakout was higher. The consecutive waves of COVID-19 infections created a need to include a repetitive exchange of emergency and intermediate stages before the recovery stage could be started. Research implications/limitations – For P2PA hosts, this study could serve as a useful contribution to shaping their tactics given the COVID-19 pandemic continuation or simi- lar disaster to happen in the future. For governments or local authorities, this study should contribute to a better understanding of the impacts of various types of restrictions on accommodation segment performance. The limitation of this research is that it refers to big cities, extending it to rural destinations might reveal valuable insights. Additional- ly, it would be interesting to compare P2PA performance with other segments of the hospitality sector (e.g., hotels). Originality/value/contribution – This study contributes to the knowledge of tourism disaster management, organizational resilience, and consumer threat response frame- works. It reveals potential factors related to property resilience in the face of disease- -related disasters and proposes a revised framework for tourism disaster management. Keywords: peer-to-peer accommodation, Airbnb, revenue, tourism disaster manage- ment, COVID-19 pandemic. JEL Classification: M10, M39, L11, L25, D22.

Analysis of design features and test results of fractional grain cleaners

Stable preservation of sown areas for agricultural production in the Russian Federation is crucial for increasing the gross grain yield. Only high-quality seeds with a low level of injury during harvesting and post-harvest processing will provide a significant increase in the yield of crops. Weediness of the grain heap decreases the yield up to 40 … 60%. According to long-term data, weediness of the grain heap in the natural and climatic regions of the CIS is 6.0 … 15.0%. Moisture during threshing is 16.0 … 20.0%, and in unfavorable years it can reach 22.0 … 25.0%. A safe storage period for such a heap is fairly limited and can attain several hours. Impurities of organic origin with the moisture content of 50.0 … 80.0% have a negative effect on the grain heap safe storage and the quality indicators of seeds. The study carried out during secondary cleaning show that the OZF-50 and OZF-80 machines provide the required productivity of 10.27 t/h and 20.40 t/h, respectively. With this productivity, the main crop content is 99.22 and 99.61%. The content of weed seeds is 3 and 5 pcs/kg, while the grinding of grain meets the technical specifications and attains 0.12 and 0.15% for the above machines. The results of regular periodic tests of the new generation OZF machines show show that all operational and technological indicators and performance indicators of the machines meet the requirements of technical specifications. The developed new fractional grain cleaners ensure the production of original seeds in accordance with GOST R52325-2005.

CX transformation of Tele2: From a discounter to a customer service leader

The case is devoted to the transition of the telecommunications company Tele2 to a management system based on the principles of continuous improvement of customer experience, or CX-transformation. The case describes the development of Tele2 in the Russian cellular market in 2003–2020. Firstly, it outlines the main aspects of the Tele2’s business strategy in 2003–2016. Secondly, it provides a detailed description of events that took place in 2015–2016, when Tele2’s financial and operational performance indicators dwindled, and the mobile operator was challenged to develop a new business strategy that meets the changing market realities. Finally, there is a description of a new customer-focused strategy that implied the integration of customer metrics into all organizational processes and the restructuring of the internal customer experience management system. The case describes actions taken by the company during 2017–2020 to implement customer experience management practices and outlines the key results of Tele2’s CX transformation. The case is based on Tele2’s internal reports, retrospective interviews with the company’s representatives involved in the CX transformation process, and secondary opensource information. The case can be used to discuss the prerequisites, goals, components, and success factors of CX transformation.