Some 90 people, including members of both The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) and The Institute of Operations Management (IOM) together with other interested parties met in Kettering in September in the latest phase of the organisations’ prestigious benchmarking schemes. Logmark, set up in 2002, is the established CILT benchmarking system looking at the exchange of information, experience and best practice in the supply chain. And Promark is the new scheme from IOM providing similar inter-firm benchmarking for the manufacturing process sector.
In his introduction to the event CILT Business Development Manager, Daryl Chesney, told delegates that ‘…it is difficult to manage and improve performance of that which you have not firstly, measured’. Both Logmark and Promark provide the opportunity to compare performance with other operators, of both similar and different character, and to exchange information regarding best-practice and operating experience. By measuring performance in a non-competitive environment operators are able to identify strengths and weaknesses and, as a consequence, make better-informed policy decisions.
Delegates attending the event were given presentations from representatives of Selex Galileo, Rolls-Royce, Arvato, and NHS Supply Chain, all of whom are members of one or other of the schemes, together with a presentation from KPMG regarding its recent global Supply Chain Maturity Study.
Members of the clubs complete an annual online survey, the results of which are analysed and shared, in order to establish best practice and ensure greater efficiency by the stakeholders The survey examines a number of key business functions including operations, risk management, inventory, transport, environmental policy, economic outlook, human resources, customer service and continuous improvement.
The responses are analysed and the results forwarded to the individual members enabling them to compare their performance with other club members. They are not obliged to complete every part of the survey but are only issued with benchmarking results in respect of those elements to which they have responded themselves. In that way they are able to protect any specifically confidential information that they prefer not to share.
Using a traffic light system of analysis, the report identifies high performance levels, below average levels and poor performance and thus aspects of the operation that may require evaluation and attention. Written reports are supplemented by quarterly meetings and the ability to share ideas and experiences with fellow members on a non-competitive basis.
Membership of both Logmark and Promark costs £895 per site, per annum with a sliding–scale discount structure for multiple sites in the UK or across Europe.
