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Benchmarking System Engineering: Harris Case Study
Author(s) -
Kraemer Bruce P.,
Kabaservice Thomas P.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
incose international symposium
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2334-5837
DOI - 10.1002/j.2334-5837.1994.tb01715.x
Subject(s) - benchmarking , best practice , engineering management , computer science , engineering , business , management , marketing , economics
In 1991 Harris' Electronic System Sector decided to look for new ways to achieve significant improvements in its product development capabilities. A variety of plausible efforts were considered. One of the projects undertaken was to explore the applicability of Benchmarking as applied to the System Engineering discipline. In this paper Harris describes its benchmarking journey including the project origins, approach to benchmarking and lessons learned in applying this improvement technique. The practice of benchmarking requires a considerable amount of honesty and “soul baring” between benchmarking partners. But, it is accepted practice that information shared between partners be held in confidence. Therefore, this paper concentrates on the approach used and lessons learned in applying benchmarking rather than specific insights regarding how Harris or its benchmarking partners currently conduct their System Engineering or might change System Engineering practices as a result of the benchmarking.