ABSTRACT
Benchmarking improves performance by identifying and applying best demonstrated practices to operations and sales. Managers compare the performance of their products or processes externally with those of competitors and best-in-class companies, and internally with other operations that perform similar activities in their own firms. The objective of Benchmarking is to find examples of superior performance and understand the processes and practices driving that performance. Companies then improve their performance by tailoring and incorporating these best practices into their own operations – not by imitating, but by innovating. Companies use Benchmarking to: improve performance, understand relative cost position, gain strategic advantage, and increase the rate of organisational learning.
