Patent ID: 7065426

Claim:
A method of evaluating the efficiency of an automatic machine for processing articles ( 2 ) grouped into a succession of production lots; the method comprising the steps of: calculating, upon completion of a production lot, a current performance index (I) of the automatic machine ( 1 ) achieved during production of said production lot; memorizing the current performance index (I) in a nonvolatile memory, together with various characteristic parameters relating to the processing of said production lot; finding in the nonvolatile memory at least one historic performance index (I) memorized beforehand during operation of the automatic machine ( 1 ) and having characteristic parameters similar to the characteristic parameters of the current performance index (I); and evaluating the efficiency of the automatic machine ( 1 ) by comparing the current performance index (I) only with the historic performance index (I) having characteristic parameters similar to the characteristic parameters of the current performance index (I).