Mineral resources are one of the basic elements in the economic system of a state. That is why issues of the rational use of natural resources and the subsoil use, in particular, are in the sphere of the constant attention both by state bodies and by subsoil user enterprises. Information about the subsurface is replenished by conducting the geological exploration, subsequent interpretation of its results, submission of reports and other accompanying documents to the relevant geological information funds. However, the accumulation of primary and interpreted geological information does not contribute to the formation of a unified knowledge base that could allow the automated preparation of analytical information to support management decision-making. To eliminate this problem, it is advisable to use an ontological approach. Its essence in this case boils down to the construction of causal relationships between elements (entities) and filling the resulting ontological model with factual information about the geological and economic indicators obtained as a result of the work carried out. This article investigates the work structure and the sequence of the process of conducting an enlarged geological and economic assessment of solid mineral deposits based on the ontology of geological and economic assessment of mineral resource base objects.

The article provides an economic assessment of the feasibility of application of multi-vortex separators designed to increase the operational life of fine filters in the technological line of an enterprise with paint-drying chambers. It is shown that the rapid wear of fine filters leads to the need for their frequent replacement. As a result, there are significant economic costs. To increase their service life, multi-vortex separators are proposed. The principle of their operation is described. An economic calculation has been carried out for 3 variants of integrating multi-vortex separators into the production line: 1) in front of ceiling filters; 2) in front of floor filters; 3) in front of ceiling and floor filters. In the work, such parameters as cash flow, discounted payback period, net discounted income and profitability index were calculated. The results showed that the project for the introduction of multi-vortex separators into the paint-drying chamber is cost-effective if their efficiency is more than 0.4, since the PI profitability index is more than 1. The net discounted income of the NPV project with the efficiency of multi-vortex separators from 0.4 to 0.8 is from 159.6 to 749.12, from 976.1 to 2417.4 and from 1135.7 to 3166.5 thousand rubles, when implementing the project for options 1, 2 and 3, respectively, with the useful life of the separator N = 10 years. The payback period of the project is from 12 months. As a pilot project, 1 option can act, i.e. the placement of multi-vortex separators in front of ceiling filters. This is due to the minimum investment costs among all options, amounting to 150,000 rubles and a relatively fast discounted payback period of the project, ranging from 12 to 39 months, depending on the effectiveness of multi-vortex separators.

The problematic issues of increasing the organizational and economic efficiency of domestic industrial enterprises of mechanical engineering are considered. Based on the analysis of the series of dynamics of the basic and chain indicators of output, investment, and return on funds, the work forms complex directions for improving the efficiency of machine-building production, corresponding to the conditions of the requirements of accelerated formation of the technological sovereignty in the areas which are critical to the economic security, new formats and the composition of participants in international cooperative relations. It is shown that in the current difficult conditions of the formation of new world centers of economic power, it is necessary to start developing new conceptual foundations for the sustainable development of machine-building enterprises on the basis of a well-thought-out industrial policy that ensures the technological sovereignty in the critical areas of the country's life. It is necessary to intensify the use of organizational, technical, material and financial resources, since the productivity of the use of primary resources, labor and capital is an important indicator of increasing both the sectoral efficiency of production and the political and technological sovereignty. The results of the study allow us to conclude that improving the efficiency of machine-building enterprises should take place in the complex areas, including both the implementation of intra-organizational reserves for the use of funds and objects, methods of the labor organization, and attracting investments and advanced technologies within the framework of the development of subject and technological specialization, broad digital transformation of enterprises. Taking into account the nature of the implementation of the necessary measures at different levels of the economic management, it is advisable to strengthen the state executive apparatus to intensify the development of manufacturing industries, ensure positive structural shifts, giving the priority to engineering industries that generate high added value.

The fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0) affects the transformation of business processes, technological and organizational models. As part of the implementation of the policy in the field of human capital activities, additional requirements arise for the qualification and retraining of an employee, combining and transforming positions and functions, which often increases the level of digital, information and communication technologies. Systematic and comparative analysis was chosen as the main approach to the study of this issue, industrial practices were considered to form general recommendations and identify the best examples of increasing the competitiveness of oil and gas companies in the implementation of the digital transformation. The materials of the article are of practical value in terms of improving the organizational, technological, managerial, development, accounting and control processes. The results of the article can be taken into account by Russian oil and gas companies at the state and corporate levels when developing plans and strategies for the development of the digital economy.

In the article, the author examines the existing domestic and foreign approaches to the definition of the brand concept. The theoretical interpretation of the concepts is carried out, their common fundamental characteristics are determined, key similarities and differences are noted. Based on the analysis, the characteristics of the brand concept itself were identified, which formed a basis of the author's definition. The relevance of the research lies in the fact that at the moment there is no approach to understanding the brand that would take into account its specifics and content elements. All existing definitions are limited to one or several aspects of the brand's existence and do not reflect its constituent elements, the specifics of its formation and many other features. The problem lies in the fact that the existing elements of the brand, based on its existing definitions, do not fully reflect all the elements of which the brand actually consists, and which influence its formation. The purpose of the study is to form an optimal definition of the brand, reflecting the above specific features. The author conducted a research using theoretical (analogy, analysis, synthesis, etc.) and empirical methods (critical analysis of the literature). As a result of the conducted research, the author's definition of the brand was formulated. The author describes the practical application of the research results and formulates proposals for further research in this direction.

Despite a significant reduction in the number of universities in our country, this sector of educational activity is represented by a sufficient number of private and public universities, which form a serious competitive environment, which is strengthening for public universities, along with a narrowing of the number of budget places in many profiles and areas of the higher education. The market orientation towards consumers of educational products and services becomes relevant, which strengthens the confidence in the expediency and timeliness of the use of marketing tools and the concept of benchmarking in order to ensure competitive advantages of domestic universities, both private and public ones. It is obvious that in today's competitive environment, universities must constantly monitor and satisfy needs and desires of their target group of consumers, as well as their goals to maintain their presence, as it is customary in the practice of the business environment. A business can produce products and services that, in its opinion, will be unlike its competitors and completely suitable for its consumers. However, if consumers are not aware of these products and services or are not satisfied with their use, this will complicate the sales efforts of any business. In the same way, when planning and implementing all their activities, higher education institutions should carry out consumer-oriented marketing activities that meet the consumers’ needs.

The main factors of the development of the creative potential of a modern company based on knowledge management are considered. The relevance of this issue is noted, as well as the debatable content of the concept of "creativity", current trends in the management of human capital are indicated. The term "creative potential" is interpreted as a process of permanent self-development of the company's personnel. It is noted that among the key qualities that determine the above-mentioned potential, there should be dominant competencies, organizational, absorbing and dynamic abilities of the company. It is emphasized that the formation of these qualities should take place within the framework of the knowledge management system (KMS) being created at the enterprise, the fundamental element of which should be the system of continuous training of employees of this enterprise. The result of such training should be at the first stage the transformation of the company into a self-learning company, and then, in the course of the maximum possible coverage of personnel with training, into an intellectual company. The competitiveness of such a company is determined by the sharply increasing opportunities for the accumulation and capitalization of knowledge. The most important structures that make it possible to implement the functions of accumulating and disseminating new knowledge in the company are training centers and corporate universities created at enterprises.

The article analyzes specific features of the structure and nature of the teacher's work in the modern conditions. The working day of a hypothetical high school teacher is considered, the structure of teachers' working hours in the context of weekly and daily observation is compared, and differences in the style of self-organization are also revealed.