We use cookies to provide you with a better experience. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy.
  • INDUSTRY PRESS ROOM
  • SUBMISSIONS
  • MEDIA FILE
  • Create Account
  • Sign In
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Free Newsletters
  • MAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Digital Edition
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletters
  • STRATEGY
  • GLOBAL
  • LOGISTICS
  • MANUFACTURING
  • PROCUREMENT
  • VIDEO
    • News & Exclusives
    • Viewer Contributed
    • CSCMP EDGE 2022 Startup Alley
    • Upload your video
  • PODCAST ETC
    • Podcast
    • White Papers
    • Webcasts
    • Events
    • Blogs
      • Reflections
      • SCQ Forum
    • Mobile Apps
  • MAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Digital Edition
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletters
  • STRATEGY
  • GLOBAL
  • LOGISTICS
  • MANUFACTURING
  • PROCUREMENT
  • VIDEO
    • News & Exclusives
    • Viewer Contributed
    • CSCMP EDGE 2022 Startup Alley
    • Upload your video
  • PODCAST ETC
    • Podcast
    • White Papers
    • Webcasts
    • Events
    • Blogs
      • Reflections
      • SCQ Forum
    • Mobile Apps
Home » Benchmarking "do's" and "don'ts"
Forward Thinking

Benchmarking "do's" and "don'ts"

December 12, 2007
Supply Chain Quarterly Staff
No Comments

How can companies get the greatest benefits from benchmarking and best practices in their supply chains?

That question was put to a gathering of 60 top supply chain executives at the Supply Chain Leadership Forum, an event hosted by the Supply Chain Consortium and the consulting firm Tompkins Associates, which manages the benchmarking organization. The two-day seminar drew participants from retail, consumer product, and distributor/ wholesaler companies.

To answer that question, attendees came up with a list of "Do's" and "Don'ts" for companies that want to benchmark their supply chains and adopt best practices. (See their "Top 5" list below.)

The executives noted that benchmarking and best practices have helped them to improve supply chain performance, especially when it came to costs. Some 74 percent said that benchmarking had a positive effect on transportation costs while 70 percent said that it did the same for distribution costs. Another 56 percent said benchmarking had improved their customer service levels.

Top 5 benchmarking do's and don'ts
• Do align with key stakeholders
• Do succinctly summarize benefits for top management
• Do reduce your scope to actionable items
• Do maintain perspective of both your business and cultural model
• Do test multiple options before drawing conclusions

• Don't use competitors that match up poorly with your supply chain processes
• Don't ignore your competition
• Don't benchmark too broadly; keep a narrow focus
• Don't use benchmarking and data-analysis tools without understanding how they work
• Don't work in a vacuum and think your organization knows it all

  • Related Articles

    Revamped benchmarking model goes green

    Do-it-yourself carbon calculations

    Reducing supply chain barriers would do more to increase trade than ending import tariffs

Recent Articles by Supply Chain Quarterly Staff

Kearney launches “supply chain institute” as more companies seek resilience plans

Trucking industry lobbies for leverage in transition to zero emissions

Safety will be top of mind on National Forklift Safety Day 2023

You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Most Popular Articles

  • Survey: most Americans unaware that truckers face shortage of parking spaces

  • Best practices in logistics sustainability

  • Supply chain executives not yet seeing expected results from technology investments

  • Postal Service plans to seize items mailed with fake stamps

  • Inflation drops again as interest rate hikes hit home, NRF says

Featured Video

20221107korber large vs

Enhancing Customer Experience with Your Supply Chain Strategy

Viewer Contributed
With the rise of e-commerce, many businesses have had to transform their warehouses to handle online orders in addition to regularly scheduled inventory shipments. This means warehouses need more information than ever before to ensure they can meet customers' needs. As a result, companies need to select warehouse...

FEATURED WHITE PAPERS

  • Guide to Pallet Rack Safety

  • 3PLs: Complete Orders Faster with Flexible Automation

  • A shipper's guide to navigating post-pandemic holiday freight

  • THE NEW WAY TO WAREHOUSE: 4 Innovations in Automation & Robotics to Boost Warehouse Productivity

View More

Subscribe to Supply Chain Quarterly

Get Your Subscription
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • E-NEWSLETTERS
  • ADVERTISING
  • CUSTOMER CARE
  • CONTACT
  • ABOUT
  • STAFF
  • PRIVACY POLICY

Copyright ©2023. All Rights ReservedDesign, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing