Benchmarking

Automotive Benchmarking

Benchmarking involves a structured comparison between similar products, services or processes on some dimensions of performance. For example, it can be used to compare the availability and delivery of features in a product and in this form often provides the basis of consumer tests and reviews. These look at products and services and provide recommendations based on which is best or some form of ranking amongst competitors. It help to analysis the company design and deliver better product to customer at competitive price and quality.

Flow Chart of ASI Benchmarking institute in India is as follow:

This process narrowed down consumer expectations to the following parameters:

Out of these parameters, cost of ownership and after sales service are widely benchmarked across the world and in India to rank car manufacturers. Testing Safety of the car is in the scope of regulatory agencies in India and abroad. Hence our study has excluded these two parameters. Comfort and Performance affect the consumer in day to day life but are never benchmarked at large scale across the segments. We’ve broken these vital attributes into sub groups for measurement and comparison.

The Scoring on the various parameter is given ASI Benchmarking institution are shown below with sample example.

Following graph shows the comparison for various parameters for driver. As these are Rankings, the lower the better. The scores are on a scale of 1 to 6, 1 being best

Noise refers to noise levels as heard by driver and passengers, articulation index and similar parameters.

Vibration score includes seat pad vibrations, tactile vibration on steering and gear lever, floor vibrations etc. More on this here.

Bump isolation measures the acceleration and displacement experienced by the driver and passenger when the car is driven on a standard bump at a fixed speed.

Seat comfort is an extensive in-depth measurement and analysis of seat pressure profile and high pressure zones to ascertain cushion performance, thigh and lumbar support and more parameters under different driving conditions. More in-depth reading of this can be done here.

Steering score refers to effort required by the driver in doing several steering intensive maneuvers like parallel parking and U-Turn.

ABC pedal score is a result of effort required by the driver in pressing these pedals under typical running conditions.

Acceleration refers 0-60 kmph and 0-100 kmph times and g values under normal usage conditions (tyre pressure, fuel carried and occupancy).

Braking refers to time and de-acceleration from these speeds.

From the above trends, we can see the focus of different cars and their performance on those attributes. This bird’s eye view in explored in detail in the following sections to understand their effect on the overall scores.

Body In White (BIW) Benchmarking

generating 3D CAD Data for a BiW through automotive 3d scanning and reverse engineering which is extremely useful in crashworthiness analysis of a car BiW, and how 2D CAD outputs are useful to automotive design engineers in analysing section modulus for strength requirements.

BIW Benchmarking dine by ASI institution in 3 parts:

for instance, while designing passenger seat support bracket on Body in White (BIW), the designer needs to consider the following constraints:

Appropriate automotive benchmark data in a suitable format is readily available, detailed study time can be reduced and the decision-making process can be expedited. For e.g. if the benchmark vehicle passes homologation and the seat assembly weight is in range, the thickness map of the benchmark bracket can be used as a reference to start the vehicle design. It will save many iterations for CAE.

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, five-year-old boy, his father, and his mother. He visits his native place Madurai which is 500kms away from Bangalore once in 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 with options so that he will buy a good car for his family.

Note: Pughazhyendhii  is fond of big cars

Given Data:

• of person for commute:- 5 persons
• Budget: 8 to 10 lakhs
• Monthly total driving: 2200 to 2300km

           1000 km to native trip

40kmx 26 days =1040km to office

160km misc. travelling

• Age type of people commuting: 5 to 60+ year old
• Living place : Bangalore crowdy and heavily traffic place.

Points to consider for selection:

• Safety
• Mileage
• Bootspace
• Gear transmission type
• comfort
• Cost
• Design and style

While Searching over Internet for car ranging from 8lakh to 10 lakh following SUV car Mahindra XUV300 w4 – Petrol

2. Hyundai Venue E Diesel


3. Maruti Vitrara Brezza LXI- Petrol

4. Toyota Urban Cruiser Mid-Petrol

Doing Online comparison of 4 SUV car on CarDekho website following data is generated.

Model	Mahindra XUV300 w4 – Petrol	Hyundai Venue E Diesel	Maruti Vitrara Brezza LXI- Petrol	Toyota Urban Cruiser Mid-Petrol
On-road cost	Rs.9,22,826	Rs.9,79,800	Rs.8,58,327	Rs.9,74,050
Fuel type	Petrol	Diesel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	1197cc	998cc	1462cc	1462cc
Max Power	108.6bhp@5000rpm turbo charged	118.35bhp@6000rpm turbo charged	103.26bhp@6000rpm	103.26bhp@6000rpm
Gear Box	6 speed	6 speed	5 speed	5 speed
Mileage	17kmpl	23kmpl	17kmpl	17kmpl
Front suspension	MacPherson Strut with anti-roll bar	McPherson Strut with Coil Spring	MacPherson Strut with anti-roll bar	MacPherson Strut with anti-roll bar
Rear suspension	Twist beam suspension with Coil Spring	Coupled Torsion Beam Axle with Coil Spring	Torsion Beam With Coil Spring	Torsion Beam With Coil Spring
Seat capacity	5	5	5	5
Boot space ltrs.	259	350	328	328
ABS	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Airbag	2 nos.  front	2 nos.  front	2 nos.  front	2 nos.  front
Anti Thief alarm	NA	NA	Avl.	Avl.
Seat belt	Avl.	Avl.	Avl.	Avl.
Side impact beam & front impact beam	Avl.	Avl.	Avl.	Avl.

Points observed

According to comparison chart Hyundai Venue is better in comparison to other 3 cars in following points.

Safety: ANCAP rated 4 Star rating to adult and child safety. This car equipped with air bag ,ABS and all other relevant feature available in this segment.

Mileage: Being a Diesel automotive in this price segement it has maximum milage output of 23kmpl and being the owner is daily commuter and do long ride once in month diesel vehicle suite best to the choice.

Boot space: Though body width is less compare to other variant it has maximum boot space of 350 litres which is ample space for passenger to seat and travel long trip comfortably.

Gear Transmission: It has Manual gear transmission with 6 speed gear box for smoother rider at higher speed. Automatic transmission variant is also available which is best suited for crowded city commuting.

Cost: Diesel Variant is available @ 9.79 lakh manual transmission whereas automatic transmission petrol variant is available @ 8.0 lakh on-road price.

Design : In term of looks and style it very stylish resembles mini SUV with sunroof option to add premium look to overall look. Curves and shapes are aerodynamic with stylish led headlamp.

Conclusion:

Considering all the above comparison among the similar segment variants, Hyundai Venue Diesel variant is best option under 10lakh budget price for Pughazhyendhii