Title: Obtaining the best practices from internal benchmarking: an analysis of the efficiency of a network of fuel stations

Authors: Roberta Korb Bondan; Daniel Pacheco Lacerda; Fabio Sartori Piran; Bárbara Pisoni Bender Andrade

Addresses: Graduate Program in Production Engineering, Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos – UNISINOS, Brazil; Research Group on Modeling for Learning – GMAP ' UNISINOS, Av. Unisinos, 950 – Bairro Cristo Rei – São Leopoldo/RS, 93.022-000, Brazil ' Post-Graduate Program in Production Engineering and Systems – PPGEPS/UNISINOS, Research Group on Modeling for Learning – GMAP ' UNISINOS, Av. Unisinos, 950 – Bairro Cristo Rei – São Leopoldo/RS, 93.022-000, Brazil ' Post-Graduate Program in Production Engineering and Systems – PPGEPS/UNISINOS, Research Group on Modeling for Learning – GMAP ' UNISINOS, Av. Unisinos, 950 – Bairro Cristo Rei – São Leopoldo/RS, 93.022-000, Brazil ' Post-Graduate Program in Production Engineering and Systems – PPGEPS/UNISINOS, Research Group on Modeling for Learning – GMAP ' UNISINOS, Av. Unisinos, 950 – Bairro Cristo Rei – São Leopoldo/RS, 93.022-000, Brazil

Abstract: This research developed an internal benchmark among a network of five fuel retailers using data envelopment analysis (DEA). Only three of the five fuel retailers reached the efficiency frontier within the analysed period. We identify which factors are representative of increasing the performance of the units considered inefficient. The research shows that the implementation of an efficiency monitoring standard is an important factor to follow. Identifying best practices can help increase the efficiency of inefficient operations without the need for external comparisons. DEA contributes to efficiency evaluation due to its robustness. One of the contributions of this study is the identification of fuel retail network units that are benchmarks. It sought to identify improvement opportunities to increase the technical efficiency of the units considered inefficient. This study proposes a management model capable of evaluating efficiency over time, as well as defining, prioritising, and monitoring actions that enable performance improvements.

Keywords: fuel retailers; data envelopment analysis; DEA; efficiency; benchmarking.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBPIM.2024.140155

International Journal of Business Process Integration and Management, 2024 Vol.11 No.3, pp.199 - 213

Accepted: 22 Mar 2024
Published online: 25 Jul 2024 *

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