Benchmarking of automation indicators in the pulp industry

The adoption of total quality tools and management systems based on Balanced Scorecard have forced the companies to use some performance indicators. The use of metrical systems provide several advantages because it makes easier to set objective targets and allows the effectiveness of chosen solutions to be evaluated for competitiveness and profitability. The Technical Commission on Automation of ABTCP has recognized the need for indicators allowing to compare the characteristics of the instrumentation and automation systems. These information may lead to higher quality in decisions regarding investments in modernization or replacement of existing systems. Some significant indicators used by the companies are degree of automatic mode utilization, degree of technological update, degree of obsolescence, and index of analytical instrumentation.