Benchmarking club launch

Colin Wills recently attended the launch of Promark at the Rolls-Royce facility in Derby. The Institute of Operations Management’s Promark Benchmarking Club enables its members to compare manufacturing processes and supporting activities, regardless of the product being manufactured.

Benchmarking is the process of comparing one’s business processes and performance metrics to industry best or best practices from other industries. Whether your product is a fruit drink or a jet engine, similarities in manufacturing, planning and control can be identified and compared.

The results of these metrics can be used to assess how each company compares with respect to others within the club. Members can then consult with each other and emulate the best-in-class practices to achieve similar results.

There were over 50 interested parties at the launch and some of the subjects discussed highlighted the collaborative approach to solving common problems by member companies. It is not about sharing sensitive information but seeking commonsense solutions to problems. 

The benefit of Promark is the ability to use the quarterly members’ meeting as a kind of free consultancy service. Members can request breakout sessions on specific hot topics highlighted by the survey results. Club members work together in a non-competitive environment to share their own experiences and make suggestions in respect of their own particular challenges.

After the meeting, everyone was invited to visit the Rolls-Royce Heritage Centre to see some of its proud history. Rolls-Royce employs over 14,000 people in the local area and is the largest employer in Derby.