Performance Indicator

A performance indicator or key performance indicator (KPI) is a type of performance measurement used to evaluate the success of an organization, activity, project, or process in achieving defined objectives. KPIs provide a focus for strategic and operational improvement, support evidence-based decision-making, and help organizations identify and monitor factors critical to performance.
KPIs may measure progress toward operational targets such as quality levels, efficiency, or customer satisfaction or toward broader strategic goals. The selection of appropriate KPIs depends on an organization’s priorities and context, and indicators often differ across functional areas such as finance, sales, operations, or human resources. Management frameworks such as the balanced scorecard are commonly used to structure KPI selection and align measurement with strategy.
Performance indicators are applied across sectors including business, government, healthcare, and technical systems. Their effectiveness depends on clear definition, reliable data, and appropriate interpretation, as poorly designed indicators may create unintended incentives or fail to capture meaningful outcomes.
KPIs are used not only for business organizations but also for technical aspects such as machine performance. For example, a machine used for production in a factory would output various signals indicating how the current machine status is (e.g., machine sensor signals). Some signals or signals as a result of processing the existing signals may represent the high-level machine performance. These representative signals can be KPI for the machine.