Can We Compete?

BENCHMARKING IN INDUSTRY IS THE PRACTICE OF CONDUCTING TECHNOLOGICAL EXCHANGE VISITS WITH OTHER COMPANIES. THE PURPOSE IS TO LEARN FROM THE BEST PRACTICES THEREBY ENHANCING YOUR OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVING YOUR COMPANY. THIS PHENOMENON HAS COME PROMINENTLY INTO VOGUE DURING THE PAST DECADE. PRIOR TO THAT TIME, IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO ARRANGE PLANT VISITS WITH COMPETITORS. SUCCESSES WERE PROTECTED FROM COMPETITION. IN RECENT YEARS. MOST COMPANY AND UNION LEADERS IN MAJOR COMPANIES HAVE PARTICIPATED IN BENCHMARKING. IT IS BEING DONE ON AN INTERNATIONAL BASIS AND THEREFORE REQUIRES A LOT OF TIME AND INVESTMENT. THE DIVIDENDS CAN BE AS GREAT AS THE PARTICIPANT'S ABILITY TO LISTEN AND CHANGE.

WITH THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT OF COUNTRIES LIKE CHINA, THE POTENTIAL FOR ADDITIONAL MARKETS IS GREAT. IT HAS BEEN SAID THE PROPENSITY FOR CONSUMPTION OF GOODS AND SERVICES BY CHINA HAS THE POTENTIAL TO EXCEED THE ENTIRE WORLD'S SUPPLY FOR FIFTY YEARS. THE VARIOUS TRADE AGREEMENTS NEGOTIATED BY OUR GOVERNMENT HAVE CREATED A GREATER NEED FOR U.S. INDUSTRIES TO UNDERSTAND THE COMPETITION AND IMPROVE OUR COMPETITIVE POSITIONS.

THROUGH BENCHMARKING, WE HAVE LEARNED THAT THE OUTSTANDING COMPANIES KNOW WHERE THEY ARE HEADED. THEY LISTEN WELL AND THEIR EMPLOYEES SHARE A COMMON VISION AT ALL LEVELS OF THE ORGANIZATION. I BELIEVE THAT WITHIN EVERY LARGE MANUFACTURING ORGANIZATION THE KNOWLEDGE IS PRESENT FOR MAKING THE COMPANY GREAT. THE OBSTACLE TO REALIZING GREATNESS IS THE FAILURE TO SHARE THE KNOWLEDGE AND VISION BETWEEN SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMPANY. MANY AMERICAN COMPANIES HAVE GONE THROUGH CATASTROPHIC EXPERIENCES AND SOME HAVE DISAPPEARED WHILE TRYING TO ADJUST TO CHANGING MARKETS AND COMPETITION. I AM CONVINCED THAT MOST OF THAT GRIEF AND TRAGEDY COULD HAVE BEEN CIRCUMVENTED IF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS HAD SYSTEMS FOR LISTENING AND SHARING VISIONS THROUGHOUT THE COMPANIES.

INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, THERE IS NOTHING PARTICULARLY FANCY ABOUT THE ORGANIZATIONS AND PROCESSES IN THE WORLD'S GREATEST COMPANIES.. THEY DO, HOWEVER, SHARE COMMON THREADS. THEY ALL HAVE SIMILAR SENIOR MANAGEMENT BEHAVIORS, ARE PROCESS FOCUSED, EMPHASIZE TRAINING, MEASUREMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS AND THEY HAVE EFFECTIVE HUMAN RESOURCE SYSTEMS. THE MAIN LESSON THAT I HAVE LEARNED FROM MY BENCHMARKING EXPERIENCES IS THAT AMERICAN MANUFACTURING COMPANIES POSSESS THE RESOURCES FOR SUCCESS IF WE RECOGNIZE THOSE RESOURCES AND THE GOVERNMENT ALLOWS US TO COMPETE.

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