Quality Assurance Tool: Bench marking
If we are not the best at something it often behooves us to find inspiration from those who do it the best in the business. When Lebron James was growing up he took inspiration from Michael Jordan.
Tom Brady looked up to Boomer Esiason. Many emerging soccer players look at Pele as the gold standard for Futbol.
Many companies undergo benchmarking to become the best. The best companies then "Benchmark" themselves in order to consistently stay on top.
In this next assignment you will research benchmarking and how it is used to improve performance.
These sources, along with your reading assignments and Week's 1-3 lectures, should be used to answer the following six (6) questions:
1. Describe benchmarking and explain its role in quality management. Describe in detail how a company can derive benefit from benchmarking? What are some of the quality management tools commonly used in Benchmarking? (6 points)
2. Provide an example of how a company that you are familiar with could use benchmarking to improve its performance. If you are not familiar with a company that has used benchmarking, imagine that you are starting a new company that provides a specific product/service, then describe how you would use benchmarking to improve your company's performance.
3. What is a benchmark project? Give a descriptive and detailed example that includes insights, analysis and recommendations.
4. What are the processes involved in benchmarking? Describe them in detail explaining why each is important.
5. How does process benchmarking differ from product benchmarking? Support your statements with examples.
Mars Program Consultation:
It is the year 2030 and you are a consultant from the Mars Consulting Consulting (MCC). MCC has assigned you to work with Elon Musk and his executive staff at Space-X to help resolve issues with the latest set of failed launches to Mars.
They have provided you with some basic information pertaining to Space-X organization.
6. Following the model provided in Week 3 Lecture, produce an Interrelationship Diagram that displays at least 4 main issues within the organization.
Note: Do not copy and paste the Interrelationship Diagram from the lecture. Produce your own diagram with the appropriate issue categories.
I highly recommend using Microsoft Visio.
- Describe your chart using insights and analysis
- Explain the process that you used for identifying the problems
- Explain why you depicted the connections the way you did and what they mean. Which connections are more intense and why?
- Which quality management Tool would you use to solve the major problems? Describe in detail.
- What recommendations do you have for management and how will this result in an improved product/service/customer-experience?
For Best Results, answers should have the following:
- Background/Context
- A fully developed answer that answers the specific question that is asked.
- (If applicable), Charts/Diagrams that provide a succinct visual representation of the point you are trying to communicate.
- Real world examples
- Your own insights/analysis/recommendations
Wrapper for Charts, Tables, Diagrams:
For best results, report consumers will get the most out of your results if you provide ancillary information to your tables and diagrams.
Tables and charts with appropriate titles, appropriate axis labels, an impact statement and some form of summary are typically more well received by report consumers.
- Appropriate "Wrapper" for this report (4 Points)
- Title Page
- Page Numbers (Page X of Y)
- Strong Introduction
- Strong Conclusion/Summary
- In-Line Citations
- Reference Page that complies with APA Standards. Reference Pages needs to have its own page.
Evidence of research from academia and other reputable sources (Wikipedia is NOT a reliable source).
References are correctly cited within the body of the paper. APA format is required for in-text citation.
Examples of personal experience (work, life) that supports the research.
All references cited correctly at the end of the paper (Reference page). APA format is required for reference pages.
Use APA style for in text citations and your reference page (double spacing not required).