question 2 Benchmarking is an approach that some companies use to compare their
ID: 391252 • Letter: Q
Question
question 2
Benchmarking is an approach that some companies use to compare their operations with those of other companies (preferably the bestin the world). It is partly concerned with being able to jugde how well an operation is doing. Benchmarking involves selecting a demonstrated standard of products, services, costs or practices that represent the very best performance for processes or activities very similar to your own.
2.1. select an organisation that you are familiar with and conduct a benchmarking excercise.
2.2. process charts use a range of symbols to map out a process. the information below is a process for the application for a new identity document at the department of home affairs. construt a process chart for the existing process.
this is all the information i received on the question
Explanation / Answer
BENCHMARKING EXERCISE FOR CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
Q- 2.1) Benchmarking exercises are carried out in many companies as a performance measurement tool. Companies carry out benchmarking exercises to measure their own performance, where they stand in the competitive environment , comparison against industry and know how well the operations are being carried out by the organisation. The benchmarking exercises help to find out the best practises in the industry.
Construction Industry anywhere in the world has to maintain very high quality in its operations. A benchmarking exercise was carried out in a construction company. The construction company is a well established company known for quality construction.There were reports from the Lab Testing department that the cubes obtained after column casting were of very strenght and did not pass the 3 days and 7 days test for strenght.
The company decided to carry out a benchmarking exercise.
1) Identify problem areas: The problem area was identified that the cubes for testing obtained after concreting of the columns did not pass the strenght test. The process mapping research technique was used to identify the problem area. The flow chart method was used for process mapping. The flow chart gives a clear idea of concreting of the columns is done. The entire process was broken down into activities like placing the reinforcement, reinforcement bar cutting and bar bending, form work, concreting work, curing and removal of form work were arranged in a flow chart. This help in knowing the sequence of activities and the parallel activities.
2) Identify companies which are leaders in this industry: Customers, suppliers, the institute of civil engineers was consulted to identify best practises of concreting followed by other companies.
3) Visit to the companies following best practises: A visit was made to the company following the best practises in the construction industry. Both the companies agreed on mutual exchange of information to improve quality of construction in the interest of customers. The process map of the leading company was studied by the company and the results were shared in the group. After studying the process map the activities that were affecting the quality of concreting were discovered. New method of concreting was suggested by the leading company
4) Implementing new and improved method of concreting: After a comparison of concreting techniques of both the companies new method of concreting suggested by the leading comapany and was set as a benchmark for the whole industry.
The benchmarking exercise had some advantages for the company like
a) Knowing the competitor better
b) Process improvement
c) Cost reductions
d) Better performance
On the other hand there were some challenges faced by the company like
a) Risk of competitors capitalising on the companies weaknesses
b) Processes are delayed in implementing new standards and following them
c) Training the labour force to follow the new method and benchmark
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