"1-DAY Introduction to Benchmarking"

The need to compare against others and learn from them, is not new. However, Benchmarking as a structured systematic approach appears to date from the late 1950’s when the Japanese visited many thousands of companies around the world, to identify manufacturing best practices they could use and improve further on.

Benchmarking has been prevalent in the West for 30 years. It is an essential part of any serious quality improvement strategy and an aspect of the Business Excellence Model and its relatives. Benchmarking is frequently seen as a key tool in the armoury of quality management.

However, there is still much confusion about Benchmarking and the term is often incorrectly used. How should we start? What is Benchmarking really about? How do we do it well? What are the pitfalls?

This one-day training course gives you a detailed overview of Benchmarking and the Benchmarking process. The course primarily concentrates on Process Benchmarking, in contrast to product or strategic Benchmarking. Delegates will have the opportunity to discuss their own application proposals with the tutor during the course.

Is it right for me?
Suitable for individuals who are:
· Wishing to undertake structured benchmarking activities
· Responsible for business improvement or quality within their organisations
· Managers of operational areas in need of improvement

What will I learn?
By the end of the course you will be able to:
· Make the business case for Benchmarking in general, and for specific activities
· Recognise the types of Benchmarking and their nature and purpose
· Understand when and how to undertake Benchmarking projects and activities
· Identify suitable topics for Benchmarking and Benchmark organisations
· Formulate and manage Benchmarking plans
· Conduct successful Benchmarking
· Integrate Benchmarking with other Business and Quality Improvement activities

What will it cover?
What does Benchmarking really mean?
· Japanese origins and current usage
· Common misconceptions and misuses
· Relationship to Quality Management and other approaches

Process Mapping and Analysis
· The place of Process mapping in Benchmarking
· Process Mapping methods
· Measuring the process
· Mapping for real

Types of Benchmarking
· Strategic Benchmarking· Product Benchmarking· Internal Benchmarking· Competitor Benchmarking· Functional Benchmarking· Process and Generic Benchmarking· Selecting the right type for you

Successful and Non-Successful Case Studies
· The Xerox success story
· Those that have failed and why
· What not to do

The Benchmarking Process
· The Xerox Benchmarking Process
· Useful Variants
· Common errors
· Essentials to start with

Course fees

one delegate: £245 + VAT

two plus delegates on same coures: £200 + VAT per delegate

Venue

All courses are normally held at Charnwood House, near Nottingham

Dates for 2008

21 Jul, 10 Nov