VBC Tutorial – Laboratories and technology research

General Information

The technology level of an enterprise has a huge influence on the production quality and staff efficiency.

Laboratories are needed to research new or more advanced technologies for implementation in your enterprises.

The maximum possible number of scientists and equipment depends on the size of your laboratory. The available technology level also depends on the size.

The technology level will require equipment of a certain quality. Moreover, equipment quality defines minimum qualification requirements for the staff of the laboratory.

If you want to work with technologies and inventions of level 5 and higher, a laboratory must be attached to a working factory (80% of its efficiency or more). Factory profile and technology level must correspond to the current research.

The minimum size of the required factory depends on the level of explored technology:

Level	Maximum number of scientists	Available technology level	Remarks
1	10	Up to 4	–
2	30	Up to 8	Starting from technology level 6, a factory (farm, mine, etc) of minimum size is required
3	100	Up to 13	From technology level 9, a factory size 2 is required
4	300	Up to 19	From technology level 15, a factory size 3 is required
5	700	Up to 25	From technology level 20, a factory size 4 is required
6	1000	All levels	From technology level 26, a factory size 5 is required

Research

There are three research stages:

In preliminary research, the hypothesis is formed.

The basic duration of the preliminary research stage depends on the current technology level (up to level 8 it is 3 weeks, then longer). Even if you increase the number of scientists it won`t speed up the research, usually, it slows down because of the low efficiency of the laboratory. The number of hypotheses depends on the skill “Science research” level of the Top manager. Moreover, each hypothesis has a probability of success and a duration modifier.

If you’ve bought one or several technologies of the last 5 levels, the first stage will be longer (for ½ of the duration of the first stages of missed technologies). In case you have not investigated previous levels of technology the duration of the first stage will be longer — in proportion to the duration of missed investigations.

Research, hypothesis processing

During the second stage, you`ll have to choose one of the hypotheses then scientists will perform research with a possibility of success which you already know.

In case of failure, you can repeat this research. The possibility of success will be higher by 1%. In other words, each hypothesis can become successful in the end.

The basic duration of the hypothesis working out depends on the technology level and possibility of success (you`ll need more time if you want to work out a more reliable hypothesis).

An additional number of scientists will speed up the work. Low efficiency of the laboratory will slow down the work.

Industrial testing

The final third stage of research: is testing and industrial trial of invented technology.

The duration of this stage depends on the technology level. An additional number of scientists will speed up the research.

Technologies of level 5 (and higher) will require a factory attached to the laboratory. The profile and technology level of this factory must correspond to the research.

The duration of this research depends on laboratory efficiency, as well as factory efficiency.

Key metrics, resources, and business processes

LABORATORY SIZE

Size – the size of the subdivision, determining its maximum production capacity. It is indicated in basic units – blocks (the corresponding number of workplaces is indicated in brackets).

The location of the laboratory also matters as the level of education of the population and the average salary of the region will affect the quality and salary of your scientists.

RESEARCH

Technology – the name of the technology (type of production) currently being researched.

Research level – the level of technology studied.

Research status – current stage of the research and its progress. For more details see the section Progress.

EFFICIENCY

Efficiency of the Office – the efficiency of the managing office of the region, where the subdivision is located.

Efficiency of the staff – is determined by the correspondence of the qualification level of the staff to the required value. Requirements for the level of qualification of personnel are determined by the quality of the installed equipment. An increase in the qualifications of personnel above the required level does not affect the performance of the enterprise, but increases the burden on the manager, as a result of which his efficiency may decrease. To maintain the optimal ratio, you can use the Human Resources Department service, which automatically sets the required value for personnel qualifications through wage adjustments.

Efficiency of Equipment – is determined by the correspondence of the quality of the installed equipment to the required value, and wear and tear. Requirements for the quality of equipment are determined by the level of technology installed in the subdivision. An increase in the quality of equipment above the required level does not affect the performance of the enterprise but imposes increased requirements on personnel.

The efficiency of a Top Manager – the efficiency of management of Top-manager. Depends on the correspondence of the Top-managers skill “Science research” to the qualifications of the staff in all similar (using this skill) subdivisions of the company as a whole.

Production efficiency (at the time of recounting) is the main indicator of how well the research process is organized in the laboratory. One hundred percent efficiency indicates the optimal level of correlation between the size of the subdivision, the quantity and quality of equipment, the number and qualifications of personnel, the qualifications and loading, the efficiency of the director of the enterprise, and the level of research. Low efficiency leads to a decrease in research speed.

Final efficiency depends on four indicators:

• Office efficiency
• Staff efficiency;
• Equipment efficiency;
• Top Мanagers ” Science research” skill level

EMPLOYEES AND SALARY

Quantity – the current number of employees in the subdivision.

Staff qualification – the current qualification level of employees (in addition, the city average qualification value and the required value determined by the quality of equipment are indicated in brackets). Excessive qualification level of employees does not lead to improvement of production parameters and at the same time increases requirements for the level of “Science research” skill of Top-manager. Qualification indicators can be raised by training staff, or by a change in salary (the effect of a change in salary is visible immediately, you do not need to wait for the next turn).

Salary of one employee – weekly salary of one employee. The average salary of employees of this type of unit in the city is indicated in brackets (each type has its coefficient).

EQUIPMENT

Quantity – the amount of equipment installed. The number of workers determines the load of the enterprise and its current production potential in terms of output.

Quality – the current quality of installed equipment. Higher-quality equipment than required by technology does not affect production parameters.

Wear and tear – the current degree of equipment wear and tear. A high degree of wear and tear will negatively affect the overall efficiency of the equipment, which leads to a decrease in the quality and quantity of products. Even at 100% efficiency of the equipment, the volume of output is still reduced in proportion to wear and tear. The standard service life of devices is 7 virtual years (weekly base wear and tear is approximately 0.27%). In addition, the quality of the equipment itself affects wear and tear (it decreases by 1% per quality unit) and the ratio of the required and current qualifications of the personnel working with it (workers with less than needed qualifications wear out equipment faster than more intelligent employees). Worn-out equipment directly affects its efficiency. Since depreciation is calculated as a percentage, partial wear and tear of a piece of equipment is possible – in this case, the marker “+1” is added to the value of the worn-out amount of equipment. Partially worn-out equipment can be fixed only by fully replacing it.

TOP MANAGER

The total number of employees on profile skill – is the total number of employees of all subdivisions of this type in the company. It affects the efficiency of the Top-manager.

Skill level of player – the current level of “Science research” skill. Determines the maximum possible number and qualification of employees without loss of efficiency both in this particular unit and in all subdivisions of the company as a whole (an additional hint about the stock of the current level compared to the minimum required can be indicated in brackets, minimum – 0-25%, normal – 25-50%, good 50-100%, excellent – more than 100%).