Benchmarking

BENCHMARKING

It is an organised comparison of similar goods, services, or methods along some performance variables. By benchmarking one can include the better options available in competitors and eliminate the bad ones. This results in the development of the best product available for the customer.

Other than improving and creating better outcomes, benchmarking also helps in:

• Fostering collaboration and teamwork in order to become more competitive.

• Increasing company-wide awareness of important performance indicators and areas for improvement.

• Increasing employee awareness of internal procedures and cost structures.

Benchmarking process may vary from one firm to another, but it boils down to two types

• Benchmarking 1 – It is an eagle-eye view comparison of two products as a whole rather than dealing with specific parts. For eg., Two vehicles as a whole would be compared.
• Benchmarking 2 – It involves a much more detailed comparison. Specific components are compared and studied in detail. For eg., a door panel engineer will study door panels of different cars and will see which one is better. Then as per the study, changes are made to achieve good results and be at par with the best ones available in the market.

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.

	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

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	CONS
	Cruising capability – The ride quality is smooth making it easy to travel long distances. Easy Ride – Though an MPV, easy to manoeuvre like a hatchback. Lightweight – Being light on weight enhances the performance and makes it fuel efficient Big boot space – 550 litres of cargo space makes it an ideal choice for big families.	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 leg room is not sufficient for people sitting in the third row.

2. KIA Carens

The exciting new Carens from the South Korean manufacturers KIA comes 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	CONS
	The powertrain options are plenty and have is power packed. Since the wheelbase is longer compared to its counterparts. Focuses on cabin experience	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	CONS
	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.	The rear seat is quite congested and cannot easily fit 3 people. The ride is bit bouncy and never feels firm The rear visibility is poor due to massive C-Pillars and tiny rear windscreen.

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	CONS
	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.	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 segment and could be a little better.

VERDICT

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 litres 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.