Benchmarking

Benchmarking is the systematic search for best practices, innovative ideas, and highly effective operating procedures. It measures performance against that of the " best-in-the-class" organization. In simple words benchmarking is considered to be a comparison between the performance of a company's products, processes, or services with another company that is considered to be the best in the market. Or it can be defined as a process for improving performance by constantly identifying, understanding, and adapting best practices and processes followed inside and outside the company and implementing the results. The main emphasis of benchmarking is not on "best performance" but on improving a given business operation or a process by exploiting "best practices".

Benchmarking is an ongoing outreach activity; the goal of the outreach is the identification of the best operating practices that, when implemented, produce superior performance.

Benefits of Benchmarking

• Identify the current position and determining priorities for improving environment performance.
• Allowing comparisons
• Encouraging regular monitoring of progress & a process for continuous improvement
• Increasing competitiveness of the organization.

Guidelines for successful benchmarking

Successful benchmarking requires the following:-

• Thorough understanding of one's own processes.
• Emphasis on industry best practices.
• Selection of appropriate benchmarking partners and techniques.
• The benchmarking partner's willingness to share information
• Maintaining confidentiality of critical information
• Involvement of management and employees in the analysis of best practices
• Emphasis on practices and processes not on end results.
• Benchmarking should be a continuous process as the competition is always changing.
• Commitment towards the adoption and implementation of best practices.
• Selection and empowerment of benchmarking teams.
• Willingness to change as per the findings of the benchmarking study.
• The adaptability of the practices should be tested and the implementation results should be verified.
• Strict adherence to the benchmarking.

Steps in Benchmarking

Case

Benchmark with presently available cars in the market for the following case.

Lack of turbo petrol engine combo.

AMT has lots of negative.

Excess use of plastics in the interior.

Nissan Magnite

Model: Nissan Magnite Turbo CVT XV Executive

Price: ₹ 9.94 Lakh

Key Specifications

Mileage (ARAI)	17.7 Kmpl
Engine Displacement	999 cc
Max Torque	152nm@2200-4400rpm
Max Power	98.63bhp@5000rpm
Transmission	Automatic
Fuel Capacity	40 Liters
Seating Capacity	5 Seater
Bootspace	336 litres
Safety (NCAP Rating)	4 Star

Pros:

It provides Petrol Turbo Engine.

Design plus point

It provides add-on features like - a wireless charger, air purifier etc.

Cons:

The 1-litre naturally aspirated engine pushes out 75 bhp and lacks the low end torque punch which the turbo engine has.

Tata Nexon

Model: Tata Nexon XE

Price: ₹ 9.00 Lakh

Key Specifications

Mileage (ARAI)	17.2 Kmpl
Engine Displacement	1199 cc
Max Torque	170nm@1750-4000rpm
Max Power	118.36bhp@5500rpm
Transmission	Manual
Fuel Capacity	44 Liters
Seating Capacity	5 Seater
Bootspace	350 litres
Safety (NCAP Rating)	5 Star (Global NCAP)

Pros:

Value for money

Good engine with turbocharger facility

NCAP Rating 5 star

Cons:

Lack of automatic transmission.

Ride quality on the Nexon is not the best.

Nexon's cabin is made up of plastic and other materials.

Renault Kiger

Model: Renault Kiger RXT AMT Opt DT

Price: ₹ 9.75 Lakh

Key Specifications

Mileage (ARAI)	19.03 Kmpl
Engine Displacement	999 cc
Max Torque	96nm@3500rpm
Max Power	71.01bhp@6250rpm
Transmission	Automatic
Fuel Capacity	40 Liters
Seating Capacity	5 Seater
Bootspace	405 litres
Safety (NCAP Rating)	4 Star (ASEAN NCAP)

Pros:

1.0-litre turbo engine.

Stylish Design.

Value for money.

Cons:

Turbo lag at lower speeds.

Excess use of plastic.

COMPARISONS

	Tata Punch	Nissan Magnite	Tata Nexon	Renault Kiger
Mileage (ARAI)	18.82 Kmpl	17.7 Kmpl	17.2 Kmpl	19.03 Kmpl
Engine Displacement	1199 cc	999 cc	1199 cc	999 cc
Max Torque	113Nm@3300+/-100rpm	152nm@2200-4400rpm	170nm@1750-4000rpm	96nm@3500rpm
Max Power	84.48bhp@6000rpm	98.63bhp@5000rpm	118.36bhp@5500rpm	71.01bhp@6250rpm
Transmission	Automatic	Automatic	Manual	Automatic
Fuel Capacity	37 Liters	40 Liters	44 Liters	40 Liters
Seating Capacity	5 Seater	5 Seater	5 Seater	5 Seater
Bootspace	366 litres	336 litres	350 litres	405 litres
Safety (NCAP Rating)	5 Star	4 Star	5 Star (Global NCAP)	4 Star (ASEAN NCAP)

CONCLUSION

By comparing the cars with Mr. D.S. Pughazhyendhii requirement. I recommend Tata Punch, it gives good mileage compared to other cars, and it provides automatic transmission in this price range. By comparing torque and power it seems like less, but the dimensions of the Tata Punch make it easy to drive around the city with traffic congestion and narrow lanes, that is good for his case because he is using his car to commute to his office(at banglore).

And one of the highlighting point is the safety, for a family ride safety is very essential one ,and it have 5 star rating from NCAP. This car also provides good bootspace and it give good ground clearance. For this price segment it is worth for money.