Benchmarking

BENCHMARKING

Benchmarking compares one's business process and performance metrics to industries' best practices and/or best practices from other industries. Process benchmarking includes studying process flows, operating systems, process technologies, and the operation of target firms and departments.

Also, it can be defined as the way of discovering the best performance achieved-achieved in a particular company, by a competitor, or by an entirely different industry. this information can then be used to identify gaps n an organization's process to achieve a competitive advantage.

Three primary classifications of Benchmarking :

Although there are many forms of benchmarking, they can be classified into three categories-internal, competitive, and strategic.

INTERNAL BENCHMARKING:s used when a company already has established and proven best practices and they simply need to share them. internal benchmarking also may be necessary if comparable industries are not readily available.

COMPETITIVE BENCHMARKING: is used when a company wants to evaluate its position within when a company needs to identify industry leadership performance targets.

STRATEGIC BENCHMARKING: is used when identifying and analyzing world-class performance. This form of benchmarking is used most a company needs to go outside of its industry.

CASE STUDY

Mr. D.S. Pughazhyendhii is a married man who lives in Bangalore which is a highly crowded city. His Family comprises five members including his wife, a five-year-old boy, his father, and his mother. He visits his native place Madurai which is 500kms away from Bangalore once a month. Also, he will be using his car to commute to his office. His budget falls between 8 to 10 lakhs on road. Please suggest to him options so that he will buy a good car for his family. (Note: Pughazhyendhii is fond of big cars)

According to the problem statement given, 4 vehicles currently present in the Indian market have been compared.

1. Suzuki Ertiga

The MPV offered by Suzuki is a great package for big families, which not only is pocket friendly but offers a ton of features. The new facelift version now comes with new CNG variants along with the trusted petrol and diesel variants. This version is hybrid and offers regenerative braking and idle start-stop.

PROS

• Cruising capability – The ride quality is smooth making it easy to travel long distances.
• Easy Ride – Though an MPV, easy to maneuver like a hatchback.
• Lightweight – Being light on weight enhances the performance and makes it fuel efficient
• Big boot space – 550 liters of cargo space makes it an ideal choice for big families.

PROS

• Inferior Interior quality – The quality of the material is not good for such a car.
• The third row of seats needs to be compromised for utilizing the full boot space.
• The legroom is not sufficient for people sitting in the third row.

2 . KIA Carens

The exciting new Carens from the South Korean manufacturer KIA come with a stealthy look and massive power. The Seltos and Carens share the same powertrain which is a massive 1.4l turbo petrol churning out a peak power of 138bhp and 242Nm of torque

PROS

• The powertrain options are plenty and have is power packed.
• Since the wheelbase is longer compared to its counterparts.
• Focuses on cabin experience

CONS

• At this price range lacks some premium features
• The exterior design is a kind of acquired taste. Not for everyone.

3. KIA Sonet

KIA Sonet is a rugged designed car that is nothing short of performance. This easy-to-drive car is packed with state-of-the-art features. Sonet provides the most features when compared to its counterparts. It lacks when we see it in terms of safety. Though the car is equipped with 6 airbags, there are no NCAP test results.

PROS

• The rugged design gives it a much stronger stance.
• The powertrain is refined and gives optimal performance.
• Due to its compact size, it is easy to drive.
• The material used feels premium and is of good quality.
• The boot space is good enough to be packed with a lot of bags.

CONS

• The rear seat is quite congested and cannot easily fit 3 people.
• The ride is a bit bouncy and never feels firm
• The rear visibility is poor due to massive C-Pillars and tiny rear windscreens.

4. TATA Nexon

The updated BS-6 Tata Nexon is a performance-packed car. Offering a variety of engine and transmission options comes with an NCAP rating of 5 stars. The updated looks provide a muscular feel to the car. The turbocharged engine is having the most power and torque when compared to the other 3 cars in this report.

PROS

• NCAP Rating 5 star
• Offers much more space in the cabin
• Easy to drive and manage
• Offers good mileage making it perfect for daily commuting and the long run.

CONS

• The refinement of the motor could be better because of the low-end grunt from the motor.
• The interior quality doesn’t feel premium and could be better.
• Fuel Economy is not the best in the segment and could be a little better.

	Suzuki Ertiga VXi	KIA Carens Premium	KIA Sonet 1.2 HTK Plus	TATA Nexon XMA (S)
Price (in Lakhs)	9.49	9.59	9.19	9.84
Fuel Type	Petrol	Petrol	Petrol	Petrol
ARAI Mileage	20.5	15.7	18.4	16.3
NCAP Ratings	3 Star	3 Star	Not Tested	5 Star
Airbags	2	6	4	2
Engine Size	1462 cc	1497 cc	1197 cc	1199 cc
Aspiration	Natural	Natural	Natural	Turbocharged
Peak Power	102 bhp @ 6000 rpm	113 bhp @ 6300 rpm	81.86 bhp @ 6000 rpm	113.4 bhp @ 6300 rpm
Peak Torque	136 Nm @ 4400 rpm	144 Nm @ 4500 rpm	115 Nm @ 4200 rpm	170 Nm @ 1750 rpm
Emission Standard	BS 6	BS 6	BS 6	BS 6
Transmission Type	Manual 5 Gears	Manual - 6 Gears	Manual - 5 Speed	AMT - 6 Gears
Fuel Tank Capacity	45 L	45 L	45 L	44 L
Drive Range	923 km	707 km	828 km	719 km
Boot Space	550 L (After seat fold)	216 L	392 L	350 L
Seating Capacity	7	7	5	5
Length	4395 mm	4540 mm	3995 mm	3993 mm
Width	1735 mm	1800 mm	1790 mm	1811 mm
Height	1690 mm	1708 mm	1642 mm	1604 mm
Wheelbase	2740 mm	2780 mm	2500 mm	2498 mm
Ground Clearance	185 mm	195 mm	205 mm	209 mm

CONCLUSION:

According to me, TATA Nexon would be a perfect fit for Mr. D.S. Pughazhyendhii. Since he needs a good family car, safety should be given the utmost priority. Tata Nexon being the safest among all already gains an advantage over others. Having a good turning radius of 5.1m makes it ideal for crowded cities like Bangalore and with a great mileage of 16 km/l, it is an ideal choice for daily commuting as well. The automatic transmission would also make the daily commuting experience much better. A big boot space of 350 liters will carry the luggage of his whole family when going to Madurai. Not only the car looks big and muscular (which Mr. D.S. Pughazhyendhii is fond of), its turbocharged 1.2l of engine packed with 118bhp and 170 Nm of torque can take it to any place without any difficulty. Mr. D.S. Pughazhyendhii should look no further and go with Tata Nexon XMA (S) variant.