Quality Benchmarking   Benchmarking is one of the new vogue
subjects, along with a raft of quality related initiatives. What
can be so difficult about examining how other organizations have
achieved improved performance? The answer is NOTHING, but
"examining" others is a world away from really learning HOW they
achieved the improvement.  Many organizations publicize what
they have achieved, but it is unusual for them to be lucid on
the more mundane facts of how this transformation was made to
work.  Benchmarking is one of the most effective means to
identify improvements which can make a significant difference to
your organization. Within this article I will explain how
benchmarking should be performed in order to provide maximum
benefit to those who seriously seek improvement.  First, let us
define improvement as providing increased customer satisfaction
in the most effective manner.  Second, if we are to perpetuate
an improvement process it must be recognized as successful.....
work within "the art of the p