General

Juran offers a unique approach to benchmarking:

A benchmarking process including learning.

Each of our hydrocarbons benchmarking studies goes through a well structured and refined benchmarking process, consisting of seven consecutive steps. As the figure below illustrates, these steps are divided into two phases: positioning analysis and learning from best practices.

A uniform and unique normalization procedure applicable to all assets of the hydrocarbons value chain.

To be able to realistically compare the various value chain operations, Juran Institute has developed a normalization technique that makes realistic (apple-to-apple) comparisons of heterogeneous hydrocarbons facilities. What is unique is that Juran's normalization technique is uniform for all oil and gas processing and transportation assets. The technique is called Juran Complexity Factor (JCF) and is an overall measurement of the complexity of the facility routine operation and maintenance, calculated from the standardized description of its equipment. This is an empirical system that relies on a library of weight factor values (WF) for standard modules of equipment (i.e. loading arms, sumps, oily water treatment, pumps, dew point control units, slug catchers, electrical sub stations, HVAC systems, emergency shutdown systems, etc.). In the WF library each module of equipment is given a specific value of WF, based on the aggregate of the worldwide operational and maintenance hours. For each facility, each module of equipment is identified and the arithmetic total of the WF's gives the final CF score.

A single index for accurate measurement of the overall performance.

The Juran Hydrocarbons Index ® (JHI) is a proprietary (patent pending) methodology of Juran Institute. The Index has been developed by Angel Tonchev and Christo Tonchev to address some of the limitations of existing oil & gas performance measurement practices. It is a cumulative indicator of the overall competitiveness of an asset (i.e. platform, pipeline, marine terminal, refinery and etc.), based upon efficiency and effectiveness of its performance. It is a numerical value representing the percentage deviation of performance, relative to the corresponding industry or peer group average.

The findings of the benchmarking process are as good as the quality of the data submitted. Juran spends some 30% of the benchmarking process on data validation. Juran Institute has put in place a rigorous validation process that employs all of the company's expertise, accumulated through the years, and ensures that dubious data is not included in the comparative analysis. There are 3 levels of data validation.

Customer support is provided through our help desk. To facilitate the data submission and validation process, Juran sets up a help desk that is available during the entire project duration. The desk provides professional advice on how to fill the data collection document, answers questions related to a specific study, and send queries for validation purposes.

Best Practice Forums guarantee a learning experience. At the end of each benchmarking project Best Practice Forums are organized. This is an event that aims to transfer knowledge from the best practitioners to the other benchmarkers. The forums typically have duration of two days. They provide an excellent environment to meet oil and gas experts and exchange ideas. Additionally, the forum discusses possible program improvements for the next year.

Strict confidentiality as well as abidance with the Benchmarking Code of Conduct is guaranteed. In a competitive benchmarking study, keeping the anonymity and integrity of the participant's data is of paramount importance. To respect this necessity, all participants must sign a confidentiality agreement. Juran strictly abides to the internationally accepted benchmarking guidelines of the American Quality and Productivity Center (AQPC) and the European Benchmarking Code of Conduct.

Juran's benchmarking members website further enhances the communication and sharing of information between our benchmarking partners. It is available 24/7 and has many features (i.e. news section, knowledge center, electronic benchmarking reports, DCDs, discussion forums, help desk, etc.). The site access is restricted for unauthorized visitors (not members of our benchmarking consortium).