Company benchmarking as a tool to aid competitiveness

European competitiveness on world markets is being eroded. The Council of Ministers invited the European Commission to present proposals on developing the use of benchmarking as a means of improving the competitiveness of European industry. Three levels of benchmarking were considered (a) framework conditions (b) sector benchmarking and (c) company benchmarking. The European Company Benchmarking Forum was formed in February 1997 and presented a framework to a workshop of key players in Dublin in June 1997. It has now instigated an Internet site containing a database of key players and has developed a plan which is aimed at increasing the awareness and usage of benchmarking within companies, particularly SMEs.