Developing a model for determining the criticality level in gas industries using effective factors and balanced scorecards

Gas industries are always subject to accidents and crises. The various units of these industries possess some characteristics that can cause the emergence and intensification of crises. Managers of these industries are always looking for effective factors and units with more criticality. Therefore, understanding the factors affecting the criticality and presenting an appropriate model to determine the criticality level in various units of gas industries are important. In the present study, the effective factors in the emergence and exacerbation of the crisis in the gas industries were identified and weighed. They were then classified based on the weights allocated by the experts. Next, models were presented on the basis of factors importance. Two selected industries were evaluated using the proposed models, and the results were compared with each other as well as with the results of the risk assessment performed in these units. In this study, 39 effective factors were introduced regarding the potential for developing criticality. In the next step, according to the experts opinions, 12, 16, 11 factors were classified as very important, important, and less important categories, respectively. Further, two models were also suggested for complete and rapid evaluation of various units of the gas industries. The results of evaluation of various units revealed that the models presented were capable of evaluating various units of the gas industry with high accuracy within the order of 100–400 that can be used to prioritize preventive and control measures.