Organizations collect vast amounts of data, yet many still face a familiar challenge: identifying the right key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure performance and support decision-making. The search for reliable business metrics has fueled interest in KPI databases that provide documented KPIs, KPI examples, and established performance measurement practices.

smartKPIs, developed by The KPI Institute, has reached a new milestone with a database containing 21,772 documented KPIs.

This achievement strengthens its position as the world’s largest KPI database and one of the most extensive KPI libraries available to professionals across industries.

The KPI database includes more than 7,000 premium documented KPIs and covers 16 functional areas and 25 industries. Its collection spans sectors such as finance, healthcare, manufacturing, education, retail, logistics, public administration, sustainability, customer service, human resources, and supply chain management. Users can explore KPI examples and business metrics based on industry, department, or area of expertise.

What sets the platform apart is the breadth of contexts covered within its KPI library. Organizational context KPIs focus on business performance at the industry and functional level. Global context KPIs address topics such as economic development, public health, social progress, environmental performance, and sustainability. Personal context KPIs provide metrics related to productivity, time management, work-life balance, budgeting, and personal well-being.

The platform also serves as a resource for professionals who want to strengthen their understanding of KPI managementand performance measurement. Its learning materials cover topics such as performance management and measurement, KPI formulation and selection, target setting, KPI visualization, analytics, reporting practices, performance management levels, and common KPI pitfalls. These resources help both newcomers and experienced practitioners build stronger measurement frameworks.

Interest in KPI benchmarking and KPI documentation has grown as organizations seek greater consistency in reporting. Different teams often use different definitions for the same metric, which can affect reporting accuracy and make performance comparisons more difficult. Access to documented KPIs gives professionals a common reference point when selecting indicators and developing performance management systems.

The platform’s reach extends beyond its database. More than 75,000 members form a global community focused on KPI management, business metrics, organizational performance, and performance measurement. This network allows professionals to exchange ideas, discuss industry practices, and learn from peers across different sectors.

A comprehensive KPI database can help organizations reduce the time spent searching for relevant indicators and provide access to proven KPI examples. Documented KPIs that include definitions, formulas, data sources, reporting frequencies, and interpretation guidelines can support more informed performance discussions and stronger reporting practices.

Free Preview Subscription and More!

Professionals interested in exploring the platform can begin with the free Preview subscription.

The plan provides access to 100 KPI names, the KPI Dashboard, and the Top 10 KPIs, offering an introduction to the world’s largest KPI database at no cost.

Those who require deeper KPI documentation, premium KPI examples, industry KPI reports, and expanded access to documented KPIs can review the Starter, Standard, and Premium subscription options. These plans provide varying levels of access based on individual and organizational needs. Subscribe to smartKPIs for free and discover how KPI documentation, KPI benchmarking resources, and performance measurement guidance can support better business decisions.

For additional features, premium content, and expanded access to the world’s largest KPI database, visit the platform and explore the subscription plan that best matches your requirements.

Half of 2026 has already passed.

Many organizations now face a familiar question: What comes next?

January brought ambitious plans. Leadership teams approved strategic initiatives. Departments rolled out new KPIs. Managers tracked targets with optimism. Then daily operations took over. Priorities shifted. Reports piled up. Some initiatives lost momentum.

A mid-year performance review gives organizations a chance to pause and reassess. This period can expose weak reporting practices, misaligned KPIs, and execution gaps. It can also uncover new opportunities.

Several business leaders now look for practical support instead of lengthy theory. Free performance management resources can help teams rethink priorities, refine KPI reporting, and improve decision-making during the second half of the year.

The KPI Institute offers a wide range of free resources that support strategy and performance management. From articles and webinars to KPI toolkits and publications, these materials can support organizations that want clearer direction for the months ahead.

Why a Mid-Year Performance Review Matters

A business strategy may look solid on paper and still fall short during execution.

Some organizations collect too many metrics. Others track KPIs with little connection to strategic priorities. In some cases, teams produce reports every month without any discussion about performance trends.

A mid-year performance review can help organizations identify:

• KPIs that no longer reflect current priorities
• Reporting practices that consume too much time
• Departments that work in silos
• Initiatives with weak follow-through
• Data that lacks context

Business conditions also change throughout the year. Market shifts, operational issues, and workforce challenges can alter priorities within a few months. Companies that revisit performance data during the middle of the year often gain a clearer picture of what deserves attention.

Free KPI Resources for Better Performance Tracking

KPI reporting remains a challenge for many organizations.

Some reports contain too much information. Others focus on metrics that offer little insight into operational performance. Confusing dashboards can also slow down decision-making.

The KPI Institute provides free KPI resources that can help teams improve reporting practices and KPI selection.

These resources include:

• KPI examples
• KPIs in strategy and performance management
• KPI documentation tutorial
• Performance reporting guide

Organizations can use these materials to review existing KPIs and remove metrics that no longer serve a purpose. Clear KPI documentation can also reduce confusion among departments.

A KPI should support action. A metric without direction often turns into noise.

Strategy Execution Resources for the Second Half of 2026

A strategy document alone will not keep projects on track.

Execution problems usually appear during the middle of the year. Deadlines slip. Teams lose focus. Managers shift attention to urgent operational concerns. Strategic initiatives move into the background.

This pattern appears across many industries.

Strategy execution resources can help organizations reassess priorities and restore alignment between objectives and day-to-day work.

The KPI Institute shares free materials on:

• strategic planning
• initiative tracking
• performance review meetings
• organizational alignment
• strategy execution practices

Readers can also explore Performance Magazine articles that discuss real business cases, performance trends, and management practices from different sectors.

These resources can help leadership teams ask better questions during a mid-year performance review:

• Which initiatives still support strategic priorities?
• Which KPIs need revision?
• Which projects no longer justify additional resources?
• Which departments require stronger coordination?

Clear discussions often produce better outcomes than lengthy reports.

Free Business Performance Review Resources

A business performance review should go beyond numbers.

Financial results matter, but they rarely tell the full story. Operational delays, employee engagement issues, and weak communication can affect organizational performance long before financial problems appear.

Free business performance review resources can help managers examine performance from multiple perspectives.

The KPI Institute offers:

• research-based articles
• webinar sessions
• publications
• industry insights [watch]

Common Mid-Year Performance Problems

Several issues tend to surface during a mid-year performance review.

• KPI overload: Some organizations track too many metrics. Teams spend more time collecting data than discussing results.
• Reporting fatigue: Employees may see reports as routine paperwork instead of decision-support tools.
• Weak alignment: Departments may pursue different priorities without clear coordination.
• Outdated targets: Business conditions can change after the first quarter. Some targets may no longer reflect current realities.
• Lack of accountability: KPIs without ownership often lead nowhere.

These problems rarely disappear on their own. Organizations need structured discussions, practical tools, and reliable resources.

A Practical Time for Reassessment

The second half of the year still offers enough time for course correction.

Organizations do not always need major restructuring. Small adjustments can produce noticeable results. A revised KPI dashboard, a focused review meeting, or a clearer reporting structure may improve performance discussions across teams.

A mid-year performance review can also help organizations prepare for next year. Teams that identify recurring problems early may avoid the same issues during annual planning cycles.

The KPI Institute continues to publish research, articles, newsletters, and performance management resources for professionals across industries. And this may be the right time to review what works, address weak spots, and move forward with clearer priorities.

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The KPI Institute is a global leader in business performance research and solutions, specializing in practice domains including strategy, key performance indicators (KPIs), employee performance, customer service, and innovation management. For over 20 years, The KPI Institute has established international standards and best practices for KPIs across both private and public sectors.

What We Offer:

• Certifications & Training: Practical programs delivered worldwide—live online, offsite, and customized—spanning 6 continents and 7 offices in Australia, Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
• Knowledge Platforms: Access to www.smartKPIs.com, the world’s largest documented database of KPIs, with over 21,600 examples published and 148,000+ members in our online communities.
• Publications: Over 460 publications, including books, research papers, and practical guides, providing insights to enhance organizational performance.
• Advisory & Implementation Support: Expert guidance to apply insights in practice for measurable impact.

Our Reach and Impact:

• 81,000+ companies registered on our platforms
• 2.5 million+ professionals reached through training and knowledge services
• 128 research client countries and 120 global partner organizations 

Website: www.kpiinstitute.org.

Email: office@kpiinstitute.org

LinkedIn: The KPI Institute

Production KPIs matter now more than ever as businesses recover from the shocks brought about by the pandemic. When the global crisis slowed down production processes, companies were forced to make difficult strategic decisions.

Market shifts, movement restrictions, and material scarcities stemming from supply chain disruptions have affected several areas of the production process.

For instance, chemical manufacturers worldwide had to trim down capital and operational expenditure and shrink their operations to 40-60 percent capacity. This is due to insufficient manpower, dwindling demand, and inadequate raw material supplies, according to the data published in Manufacturing Tomorrow.

To meet contractual obligations and increase productivity, companies are encouraged to rethink their processes, explore new opportunities, and adapt to trends.

Digital connectivity is among the trends that will dominate industries as the 5G coverage worldwide continues to expand. Sustainability is also seen as a critical factor that will shape business operations and investments. The global market for green building materials is expected to grow from US$238 billion in the year 2020 to US$425.4 Billion by 2027.

Developing a new production strategy

However, the future of production is not just about the what and the why but also the how.

The potential of innovative technologies and business models can be further realized if their application is based on data-backed decisions. Such decisions help companies minimize risks, carry out relevant strategic plans, and see what works and what doesn’t.

With this, decision makers and managers should pay attention to their production KPIs, which aim to guarantee the quality of the production process, from efficiency to productivity as well as the quantity and quality of output.

The KPI Institute has released “The Top 25 Production KPIs – 2020 Extended Edition” to provide companies an international perspective on the most popular production KPIs. It is designed for organizations and professionals who want to measure the components that contribute to the successful implementation of a production strategy.

With over 100 pages, the report presents the most viewed KPIs based on the information gathered from smartKPIs.com, a database of over 20,000 documented KPIs.

You can download the “The Top 25 Production KPIs – 2020 Extended Edition” to access the profile of each KPI and learn its potential impact on your production strategy. You will also find exclusive in practice recommendations and best practices for KPI selection and documentation.

Here is an overview of the top 25 KPIs categorized into five areas:

Production Efficiency – ensures that the production locations are always running at full parameters.

• # Units per man-hour
• % Production capacity utilization
• # Ideal run rate
• # Production capacity
• # Unused production capacity
• # Work in progress
• # Production lead time
• % Downtime due to operator lack of training
• % Unplanned downtime in production

Production Timeline – indicates all the time-related aspects of the production process.

• % Production schedule attainment
• % Production schedule adherence
• % Production uptime
• # Unit production time

Inventory – describes the amount of products on stock either from returns or demand, excluding the safety stock.

• % Recovery yield rate of returned products
• # Working stock
• $ Work in progress
• % Production delays due to raw material shortage
• # Decoupling stock
• % Boomerang return rate
• # Frequency of production delays due to inventory shortages or supply delays

Maintenance – monitors the upkeep of the production plant and equipment.

• # Production plants
• % Machine utilization in production

Production Costs – refers to expenses implied by the production processes.

• $ Penalties cost due to unsatisfied demand
• $ Production costs per unit
• $ Direct material variance

Read more about each of the KPI in “The Top 25 Production KPIs – 2020 Extended Edition.”  You can also sign up for the live online course offered by The KPI Institute to learn how to implement a KPI Measurement Framework in your organization.

For inquiries, get in touch with Cristina Mihăiloaie, Business Unit Manager – Research Division: cristina.mihailoaie@kpiinstitute.com, +61 (390) 282 223 or +40 (749) 424 517.

Madinah Institute for Leadership and Entrepreneurship in partnership with The KPI Institute and smartkpis.com presents the webinar “10 Essential techniques in working with KPIs”- tools and techniques that can make a difference in getting KPIs right.

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The Certified KPI Professional Course in Kuala Lumpur was part of a series of certification courses dedicated to rigorous usage of KPIs in practice, organized in 2014 at global level in more than 30 cities from 5 continents, by The KPI Institute.

Facilitated by Aurel Brudan, CEO of The KPI Institute, this course was held at Hotel Istana in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia between the 30^th of June and the 2^nd of July 2014.

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The Certified KPI Professional Course in Johannesburg was part of a series of certification courses dedicated to rigorous usage of KPIs in practice, organized in 2014 at global level in more than 30 cities from 5 continents, by The KPI Institute.

Facilitated by Raluca Vintilă, Business Research Analyst and Trainer of The KPI Institute, this course was held at Hyatt Regency in Johannesburg, South Africa, between the 8^th and the 10^th of July 2014.

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The Certified KPI Professional Course in Bucharest was part of a series of certification courses dedicated to rigorous usage of KPIs in practice, organized in 2014 at global level in more than 30 cities from 5 continents, by The KPI Institute.

Facilitated by Raluca Vintilă, Business Research Analyst and Trainer of The KPI Institute, this course was held at Hotel InterContinental in Bucharest, Romania, between 11^th and 13^th of June 2014.

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The Certified KPI Professional and Practitioner Courses in Jeddah were part of a series of certification courses dedicated to rigorous usage of KPIs in practice, organized in 2014 at global level in more than 30 cities from 5 continents, by The KPI Institute.

Facilitated by Adrian Brudan, Director of Research of The KPI Institute, the courses were held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, between the 25^th and the 29^th of May 2014.

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The Certified KPI Professional Course in Melbourne was part of a series of certification courses dedicated to rigorous usage of KPIs in practice, organized in 2014 at global level in more than 30 cities from 5 continents, by The KPI Institute.

Facilitated by Aurel Brudan, CEO of The KPI Institute, this course was held in Melbourne, Australia between the 21^st and the 23^rd of May 2014.

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The Certified KPI Professional Course in Singapore was part of a series of certification courses dedicated to rigorous usage of KPIs in practice, organized in 2014 at global level in more than 30 cities from 5 continents, by The KPI Institute.

Facilitated by Aurel Brudan, CEO of The KPI Institute, this course was held in Singapore between the 15^th and the 17^th of April 2014.

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