ABSTRACT
The goal during benchmarking is to improve our own processes by either meeting a higher standard based on the benchmark of the market niche or by exceeding that standard. Benchmarking is nonclassical value engineering. If the leadership of our enterprise is visionary, they will have chosen to make benchmarking an ongoing process. The benchmarking team will also need to look at our own enterprise. As with teardowns, some readers may have ethical qualms regarding the use of benchmarking. With benchmarking, we are usually setting a standard for improving our own performance that standard. By analyzing a specific market niche, our organization develops strategies and tactics for improvements or we can co-opt and then adopt specific best practices, while always endeavoring to increase some component of our own performance. The use of the ultra-low cost Asian vehicle did not provide much fodder for cost improvement.
