Can anyone out there with more experience than me, (which is probably most of you) offer any guidance on the most effective items and ways to benchmark?

Industry Week produces an interactive benchmarking database outlining several more/most commonly benchmarked items. This might be a good place to start. I have noticed that it is very 'business' like, not balanced as I would hope for.

I believe balance is very important, and as such, would suggest using balance when selecting items. Use items that are Customer driven and items that are important to your organization. For instance, on-time delivery is important to the Customer (perhaps), scrap is not. But measuring scrap rates are typically important to business metrics (a failure cost). Be sure you select the correct Customer driven factors. Do not fall prey to preconceived notions that your organization may be holding. They could be dead wrong! To do this, you may need to do a study with your Customers. Surveys, face to face meetings, phone calls can all contribute effectively. Perhaps use basic Pareto techniques to organize your items. Track these for a while to get a better understanding of where you actually are. Often folks take small samples that are not indicative of the population drawing incorrect assumptions about how they fair against the benchmark target.

Well, to get you out of the gate. Any other suggestions out there?

Kevin

[This message has been edited by Kevin Mader (edited 13 October 1999).]

[This message has been edited by Kevin Mader (edited 13 October 1999).]

I did stop by the web site at www.industryweekly.com (http://www.industryweekly.com) Is that where it's at?

[This message has been edited by Marc Smith (edited 13 October 1999).]

Marc,

I have a CD that was passed to me from a reader of IW. I think that he got the CD through an ad in the magazine. Unfortunately, he isn't here to ask. For the record, it is called Industry Week's Interactive Benchmarking Database. It comes in a binder including a booklet outlining benchmarking items and percentages of how many out of 100 organizations they surveyed over a 3 year period measure these items.

I haven't been to IW's page, but I did drop by a place called The Benchmarking Exchange (TBE) about 2 years ago. I don't recall to much about it, but I think I remember that they actually help organizations to meet and become benchmarking buddies. This might cost some small $$ though (to join). It might be worth the investment.

Regards,

Kevin

[This message has been edited by Kevin Mader (edited 14 October 1999).]

Thank-you Kevin. I'll forward the info to our MIS guru. He's the "Lucky" one in charge of our benchmarking program. We just passed our Registration Audit to QS9000 and barely met the benchmarking requirement by using customer supplied info on on-time delivery. Although we met the intent of the requirement, our registrar wanted more "meat". They said the next time they will be looking for more, so that's why I posted my question.

Again, Thank-you.
Dan