The Center for Operator Performance
The Center for Operator Performance is a membership-based research consortium, founded in 2007 and based in Dayton, Ohio, that conducts collaborative human factors research to improve operator performance in process control industries for oil refiners, chemical plants, pipelines, power plants, and paper mills.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersDayton, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Center for Operator Performance does
The Center for Operator Performance is a membership-based research consortium founded in 2007 (with a copyright notice extending to 2005) and headquartered in Dayton, Ohio. It investigates human factors engineering for process control industries through manipulation of ten operator-system variables: Alarms, Graphics, Automation, Procedures, Workstation, Skills/Knowledge, Training, Workload, Job Design, and Organization. The organization serves oil refiners, chemical plants, pipelines, power plants, and paper mills, with technology vendors and academic researchers participating alongside operating companies in the research agenda.
Its core offerings consist of three product groups. First, "Tools" are ready-to-use downloadable resources aligned to each of the ten operator-system variables. Second, "Projects" comprise a comprehensive research library documenting investigations since 2007, available to members. Third, "Events" include periodic in-person meetings (Spring and October), monthly teleconferences covering recurring operational themes (Operator Performance Research, Impact of Safety Culture on Procedures, Harvesting Ownership), and short courses such as "The Power of Pre-Mortems." All current employees of member companies and their subsidiaries receive access to the platform, tools, projects, and events.
The business model is recurring membership fees paid by operating companies, technology vendors, and academic partners, with pricing not publicly disclosed. The consortium is governed collectively by its member companies, with no external parent, private equity, or venture ownership disclosed. GTM is community-led and invitation-driven: research is chosen for and by operating companies, vendors are included in research decisions, and the organization collaborates with leading human factors researchers and universities. Named members include BASF, Beville, BP, Chevron, CITGO, Emerson, Koch Industries, Marathon, and Yokogawa.
The Center for Operator Performance firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Center for Operator Performance
- Legal name
- Center for Operator Performance
- Website
- https://operatorperformance.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- The Center for Operator Performance is a membership-based research consortium, founded in 2007 and based in Dayton, Ohio, that conducts collaborative human factors research to improve operator performance in process control industries for oil refiners, chemical plants, pipelines, power plants, and paper mills.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where The Center for Operator Performance is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dayton
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
The Center for Operator Performance business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Membership Fees: Operating company-driven membership organization. Companies join as members and their employees gain access to research, tools, events, and collaboration opportunities.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
The Center for Operator Performance product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Center for Operator Performance is a membership-based research consortium that conducts collaborative human factors research to improve process plant operator performance. It delivers its value through three primary offerings: ready-to-use Tools covering operator-system variables (Alarms, Graphics, Automation, Procedures, Workstation, Skills/Knowledge, Training, Workload, Job Design, and Organization); a comprehensive Projects research library documenting investigations since 2007; and Events including periodic meetings, monthly teleconferences, and short courses for member education and networking.
Product overview
The Center for Operator Performance is a membership-based research and collaboration organization, not a software product company. It offers a portfolio of services including: (1) Tools - downloadable ready-to-use resources for operator performance improvement covering Alarms, Graphics, Automation, Procedures, Workstation, Skills/Knowledge, Training, Workload, Job Design, and Organization; (2) Projects - a comprehensive research library documenting studies since 2007; and (3) Events - periodic meetings, monthly teleconferences, and short courses for member education and networking. The organization connects operating companies (oil refiners, chemical plants, pipelines, power plants, paper mills) with human factors researchers and vendors to improve Health, Safety, and Environmental effectiveness.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Tools Ready-to-use downloadable tools for improving operator performance in process control industries, covering topics such as Alarms, Graphics, Automation, Procedures, Workstation, Skills/Knowledge, Training, Workload, Job Design, and Organization. Available to employees of member companies.
- Projects Research Library Comprehensive research library documenting the Center's investigations into operator performance improvement through manipulation of operator-system variables since 2007. Available to employees of member companies.
- Meetings Periodic in-person meetings (including October and Spring meetings) where members learn, promote projects, and network through presentations and planning sessions.
- Monthly Teleconferences Monthly teleconference calls for members covering topics such as Operator Performance Research, Safety Culture impact on Procedures, and Harvesting Ownership.
- Short Courses Educational short courses such as 'The Power of Pre-Mortems' offered to members for skill development in process plant operator performance.
Companies that use The Center for Operator Performance
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The Center for Operator Performance technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
The Center for Operator Performance partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- BASFcoreChemical manufacturing company and founding/active member of the Center for Operator Performance. Participates in research decisions and benefits from shared knowledge on operator performance improvement.
- BevillecoreIndustrial company and member of the Center for Operator Performance consortium, contributing to and benefiting from operator performance research.
- BPcoreMajor oil and gas company operating as an active member of the Center for Operator Performance, participating in collaborative research on operator capabilities and limitations.
- ChevroncoreGlobal energy company and member of the Center for Operator Performance, contributing to research on human factors in process control industries.
- CITGOcoreOil refining company participating as a member in the Center for Operator Performance consortium for operator performance research.
- EmersoncoreTechnology vendor and automation company included in research decisions as a member of the Center for Operator Performance, providing vendor perspective on operator-system variables.
- Koch IndustriescoreDiversified energy and chemical conglomerate member of the Center for Operator Performance, participating in operator performance research and collaboration.
- MarathoncoreOil and gas company and active member of the Center for Operator Performance, contributing to and benefiting from human factors research.
- YokogawacoreIndustrial automation and control technology vendor included as a member in research decisions, bringing technology vendor perspective to operator performance improvement.
- Leading Human Factors Researchers and UniversitiessupportingAcademic partners and leading human factors researchers collaborate with the Center on operator performance research, bringing scientific rigor and university resources to the consortium.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
The Center for Operator Performance competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES): Professional society for human factors researchers and practitioners, including a process industries technical group. Comparable academic and applied research community, but a broader scholarly society rather than a fee-based industry consortium.
Broad incumbents
- AFPM (American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers): US trade association for refining and petrochemical manufacturers with overlapping member companies (e.g., CITGO, Marathon, Koch). Comparable association-driven membership model but with broader advocacy and regulatory focus rather than human factors research.
- ISA (International Society of Automation): Large global professional association for automation engineers, covering standards, training, and publications that overlap with COP's automation, procedures, and alarm management domains. Broader portfolio and serves a wider audience than COP's operator-focused niche.
Emerging players
- Becht Engineering: Engineering and consulting firm supporting refiners and chemical operators on process safety, reliability, and human factors. Comparable buyer base and consulting footprint in process-plant operator performance.
- ioMosaic: Process safety and risk management consulting firm serving chemical and refining operators. Comparable buyer base and overlapping advisory service lines related to operator performance and process safety management.
Direct peers
- CCPS (Center for Chemical Process Safety): An AIChE-operated consortium that conducts collaborative research and develops guidelines on process safety, with strong overlap in chemical and refining operator-performance topics. Comparable membership-consortium structure and shared member base with BASF, BP, Chevron, and others.
- ABS Group: Subsidiary of American Bureau of Shipping providing process safety, risk management, and human factors consulting to refineries, chemical plants, and energy operators. Directly comparable buyer audience and consulting deliverables to COP's research products.
- ASM Consortium (Alarm System Management Consortium): Industry-funded research consortium focused specifically on alarm management in process plants, with overlapping membership in the automation and refining community. Highly comparable operating-company-driven research model addressing one of COP's core research domains (Alarms).
- Exida: Functional safety and alarm management consulting and certification firm focused on process industries. Competes with COP's research output on alarm management, automation, and operator-system design, and overlaps with Emerson and Yokogawa's customer base.
Regional players
- EPSC (European Process Safety Centre): European-based membership consortium dedicated to process safety knowledge sharing among chemical and energy operators. Same consortium model and overlapping member companies with COP, but concentrated in Europe rather than the US.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Center for Operator Performance financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Center for Operator Performance leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
The Center for Operator Performance funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Center for Operator Performance M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Center for Operator Performance
What does The Center for Operator Performance do?
The Center for Operator Performance is a membership-based research consortium that conducts collaborative human factors research to improve process plant operator performance. It delivers its value through three primary offerings: ready-to-use Tools covering operator-system variables (Alarms, Graphics, Automation, Procedures, Workstation, Skills/Knowledge, Training, Workload, Job Design, and Organization); a comprehensive Projects research library documenting investigations since 2007; and Events including periodic meetings, monthly teleconferences, and short courses for member education and networking.
Is The Center for Operator Performance a public or private company?
The Center for Operator Performance is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Center for Operator Performance founded?
The Center for Operator Performance was founded in 2007.
Where is The Center for Operator Performance based?
The Center for Operator Performance is headquartered in Dayton, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Center for Operator Performance make money?
One revenue line is on record: membership Fees.
Who are The Center for Operator Performance's main competitors?
Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are AFPM (American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers) and ISA (International Society of Automation). Emerging players are Becht Engineering and ioMosaic. Direct peers are CCPS (Center for Chemical Process Safety), ABS Group, ASM Consortium (Alarm System Management Consortium) and Exida. EPSC (European Process Safety Centre) is listed as a regional player.
Does The Center for Operator Performance have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Center for Operator Performance.