Benchmarking is a tool to evaluate and improve an organization's operations, including product quality, customer service, productivity, financial performance and more. It can be internal, where a company compares its performance among different locations, or against its own past performance. Or, usually with third-party assistance, it can be external, comparing costs and performance against competitors or industry peers.
World class performance
refers to the highest level of performance or achievement in a particular field or industry. It is a standard of excellence that surpasses typical or average performance levels, and is characterized by exceptional quality, efficiency, innovation and customer satisfaction.
You may choose to hire a consultant for a variety of reasons, including:
1. Objective analysis: Consultants can provide an independent and unbiased analysis of an organization's operations, processes, and strategies. They can identify inefficiencies, gaps, and areas for improvement that may not be apparent to the organization's own staff.
GA compares similar firms and facilities, to identify gaps in costs and/or performance levels, acquire management practices from “best performers” and develop strategies to reduce costs and improve FM performance...
GA's significant experience and comprehensive databases are used to assess workplace utilization and efficiency, identify flexibility and/or reconfiguration opportunities, and assess alternative occupancy methods such as flex space...
Building changes are expensive late in design, during construction, or occupancy. As “owner advocates" we review designs of A&E firms, identifying any space utilization or potential operational problems...
GA provides comprehensive commissioning plan development, to guide owners and developers in implementing a robust commissioning effort, from pre-design thru construction and post-occupancy...
The key role of the FM organization is to provide optimized services supported by flexible, adaptable, responsive, and cost-effective facilities...
Most companies outsource part or all of their facilities management services. GA works with clients to manage the overall outsourcing initiative...
1. Improved performance: Benchmarking can help organizations identify areas for improvement, and adopt best practices to enhance their performance.
2. Cost savings: Benchmarking can help organizations reduce costs by identifying cost gaps, and close those gaps by implementing more efficient processes and practices.
3. Innovation: Benchmarking can help organizations stay pro-active, by learning from other organizations and industries, and adopting innovative ideas and practices.
4. Customer satisfaction: Benchmarking can help organizations improve their products and services to better meet customer needs and expectations.
While organizations can certainly improve on their own, benchmarking provides a structured and systematic approach. This makes it easier to identify and adopt otherwise unknown best practices from outside organizations.
It can be challenging to compare different companies, but benchmarking typically involves identifying relevant metrics or performance indicators to make “apples to apples” comparisons possible.
Differences among companies are addressed by adjusting metrics or performance indicators to offset unique circumstances. Factors that influence results are normalized in the analysis to create a “level playing field.”
Benchmarking originated in the manufacturing industry in the 1970s as a way to improve quality and efficiency. Xerox was one of the first companies to adopt the methodology in a comprehensive way. Since then, it has been applied to a wide range of industries and areas of organizational performance.
Any type of organization can utilize benchmarking, including corporate, for-profit and non-profit organizations, government agencies and educational institutions.
There are some risks associated with benchmarking, such as relying too heavily on external data and neglecting internal analysis or unique factors that may affect performance. Additionally, there is the risk of confidentiality breaches when sharing sensitive data with external parties. It's important to carefully manage the process to minimize these risks.
To maintain confidentiality of data, consultants can apply anonymous, confidential “masking codes,” to information, and/or may use aggregated data in comparisons. They may also use NDAs (Non-Disclosure Agreements) among benchmarking participants.
There is an international Benchmarking Code of Conduct published by the American Productivity and Quality Council (APQC). It provides excellent advice and guidelines for a successful benchmarking project. It is a voluntary standard, but organizations should follow its ethical practices and respect confidentiality when conducting benchmarking.
The cost of benchmarking varies depending on the scope and complexity of the project, the level of expertise required, and the level of post-project support desired. However, the benefits of benchmarking typically outweigh the costs by several multiples in terms of potentially improved performance and competitive advantage.
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