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Metric benchmarking
Author(s) -
Blankenship Linda,
Olstein Myron,
Liner Barry
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal ‐ american water works association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.466
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1551-8833
pISSN - 0003-150X
DOI - 10.1002/j.1551-8833.1998.tb08453.x
Subject(s) - benchmarking , metric (unit) , process (computing) , best practice , computer science , outsourcing , process management , business , operations management , engineering , marketing , economics , management , operating system
Benchmarking is becoming a popular tool for utilities to systematically assess how their performance compares with that of other utilities, so that trouble spots can be targeted. In recent years, benchmarking has gone from a buzzword in the water industry to a useful tool to assess performance. The AWWA Research Foundation has funded two studies of benchmarking, is sponsoring expansion of WaterStats into a database that can support benchmarking efforts, and has defined two forms of benchmarking—metric benchmarking and process benchmarking. Metric benchmarking, more commonly used by water suppliers, involves tracking operations over time and comparing the performance against that of similar companies within one industry. Process benchmarking breaks system processes into individual steps and then compares these process elements with those of the best practice providers from any field. For water utilities, benchmarking is particularly useful in five distinct applications: management review, strategic planning, outsourcing of services, reports to management, and system acquisition.