Benchmarking

Automotive benchmarking :-

Automotive benchmarking refers to systamatic comparison of processes, services and products in automotive industry. This basically involves intensive research and even collabration with companies to improve there products, services and processes being offered to company. The purpose of benchmarking is to determine the strength and weakness of company to improve there performance.

Objectives of benchmarking in automotive industry.

1. To create and implement improved plans for better performance.

2. To implement best practices for increased performance in product life cycle.

3. To improve business and manufacturing process practice.

4. To eliminate process gaps or hindrances in process.

5. To reduce operating cost and relize huge savings.

6. For evaluating operational efficiency.

Steps involve in Automotive benchmarking.

1. Auto Features:-

It is one of the impoartant step that every automotive benchmarking includes. Basically it compares various features that any car manufacturer provides. Based on the comparison car manufcaturer decides no of features, need to be include to make there product stand different in the market. But while providing features car manufacturers looks for overall costings of any vehicle. They try to keep costings within limit so that there product should be affordable for any class, for which they are targating.

2. 3-D Scanning :-

Second most important step in automotive benchmarking is 3-D Scanning as it gives the structural as well as dimension wise idea of any vehicle. 3-D scanning helps a lot to know more about any cars structure, its interior, exterior, components packaging and many more. Many OEM's use this data to make there vehicle light, compact and reliable. Thats why many car manufacture works more on vehicle structure as it very important in terms of safety.

3. Auto-Reverse :-

Auto-Reverse is nothing but understanding system in deeper way. Many OEMS uses this methods to understand more about any cars system working so that they can compare there own system with there compititors. It helps car manufcaturer to improve there functionality, efficiency and cost cutting so that there product performs good compares to others.

Generally reverse engineering takes more time because, single car consist N no of systems. But while benchmarking car manufacturer tries to target specific systems so that they save there time as per requirement or the purpose of reverse engineering.

4. Lightning:-

When it comes to asthetics of any car, lightning plays an very important role to improve its look. So while benchmarking of lightning system they try traceout the wire harness, its cross-section area, material used for insulation, availability, cost and mounting equipements etc. Based on observation they try to replace some components if required. As well shapes of lights are also very important in temrs of asthetic. Because car with good lightning system attracts more customers. Finally based on overall observation if company feels that our product will satisfy the market requirements they dont change any thing to save its cost.

Below Table shows detailed comparison of cars under 10 lakhs.

• The number of commuters is five including a child and hence the vehicle should be spacious with enough leg room
• He uses his car for Daily office commute and a monthly trip to his native .This would give a total estimate of more than 2500km/month and 20000km/year.
• The budget is from 8-10 Lakhs and he is also fond of big cars
• Based on these underpinning factors the suggestion would be a choice of SUV Vehicle.
• Considering the long run of the vehicle the viable option would be Diesel variant which helps to save fuel costs and other upfront maintenance and also has better mileage.
• In a crowded city like Bengaluru Automatic Gear transmission would be best suited but due to budget constraints and fuel efficiency Manual Transmission is preferred

Performance.

As per performance aspect TATA Nexon delivers more power and more torque as compare to other cars.

And as per Mileage point of view Maruti SuzuKi Brezza is leading but if we consider TATA Nexon also provides good mileage in real time conditions.

Interiors

• TATA Nexon is the best among the group because of its spacious Cabin Interior with more Leg room for the rear passengers and suits best for the family drive by giving best seating for the fifth passenger.
• The Glove Box and Rear HVAC Vent are the standout features of TATA NEXON and also has improved sunvision and Instrument Panel Clusters with added utiliy holders along the side doors.
• Nexon's Infotainment touch screen has sub par performance compared to Kia Sonet and Hyundai Venue.
• KIA Sonet has a better Plastic Interior trim quality and Dual tone variant of Hyundai Venue and material looks better whereas the Quality of XM variant Nexon is not superior compared to other models
• The Blue link connectivity App with smarphone from Hyundai Venue gives additional scoring for Venue among others.

Exteriors

• TATA Nexon is a standout in this category and offers the maximum bootspace of 350 litres falling just behind EcoSport but Nexon provide way better ground clearence of 209mm which will be well suited for the Indian Roads
• The Facelift, Headlight and Tail Light are stylish in NEXON and gives a land rover discovery like front with beefy and bulky front end.
• The Lagged out ABC Pillars of TATA NEXON offers better head room among the other models.

SAFETY and COMFORT

• Almost all the models has same safety features of Dual Airbags, ABS with EBD, parking sensors, corner stability control but NEXON offers Dead pedal which comes very handy in the case of Pughazhyendhii for his frequent long drive.
• Apart from that Automatic Rain Sensing Wipers, Tyre pressure monitoring system are available in TATA NEXON 1.5XM within the price range
• TATA Nexon is the first Indian Model to recieve 5star NCAP Rating for its safety and crash test.

Img1) NCAP Report

The Fortified Cabin with High strength steel structure absorbs impact and protects the passengers duing unfostunate collision

Img2) HSS of TATA Nexon

VERDICT

TATA Nexon 1.5 XM is better model suited to Pughazhyendhii based on the benchmarking report done above. It offers much better stability in performance and spacious compared to other model and falls under the budget of 10 lakhs with top spec model. Hyundai Venue also provides better features but lags Nexon on the Rear Passenger comfort along with XUV and Eco Sport.

Img3) POV Interior TATA Nexon

Img 4) Cabin Interior Features

Img 5 ) Comfort features in TATA NEXON

Img6) 350 litres spacious boot space in TATA Nexon

Seating Fabric and upholstery

Conclusion.

Based on detailed comparison of specifications, performance, mileage, safety, cost the proposed vehicle is TATA Nexon as it will fullfill all the required needs of Mr. D.S. Pughazhyendhii.