DG Enterprise Benchmarking Initiatives

Background

In October 1996, the European Commission, Directorate-General Enterprise (formerly DG III), published a Communication, 'Benchmarking the Competitiveness of European Industry' (COM(96) 463), in which it identified weaknesses in the performance of the European economy. In order to assist the implementation of the necessary measures to strengthen European competitiveness, the European Commission proposed the use of benchmarking to compare performance in the different key areas and factors that determine economic success.

In November 1996, the Commission was invited by the Council of Ministers to present proposals on developing the use of benchmarking as a tool to improve the competitiveness of European industry.

Benchmarking Pilot Projects

In its Communication of April 1997, 'Benchmarking: Implementation of an instrument available to economic actors and public authorities', the Commission identifies three levels of benchmarking:

Enterprise level

Sectoral level

Framework conditions

The Communication identifies Commission-sponsored and nationally funded benchmarking initiatives that have been set up at each level.

The Communication also proposes the establishment of a community framework to support pilot benchmarking projects in a limited number of Member States in areas of common interest to the European Community. A number of eligible themes were identified:

New information and communication technologies

Financing of innovation, in particular that of intellectual property

Logistics and transport

Development of human resources

European Benchmarking Network

A network established by DG Enterprise en Enterprise Ireland which aims to bring together European managers to share expertise and experiences of benchmarking as a tool to improve competitiveness and performance. The goal of the network is that of sharing good practices in benchmarking to improve Europe's overall effectiveness on the global stage.

For more information contact : Richard Keegan, EntrepriseIreland, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland. Tel: 00 353 1 808 2000. Email: Richard.Keegan@enterprise-Ireland.com

European Benchmarking Forum

The European Benchmarking Forum was formed in 1997 to address the issue of improving the overall competitiveness of Europe at entreprise level. The forum comprises key benchmarking actors from across the European Community, many of whom are actively involved in the development of performance, both in the private and public sectors, through the introduction of best pratice. The forum is co-ordinated by Entreprise Ireland.

For more information contact : Richard Keegan, EntrepriseIreland, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland. Tel: 00 353 1 808 2000. Email: Richard.Keegan@enterprise-Ireland.com

The Benchmarking-in-Europe website

The European benchmarking website, established by the Enterprise
Directorate of the European Commission in conjunction with the Benchmarking
Co-ordination Office, promotes benchmarking as a tool to enhance the
competitiveness of European Industry. It is administered by the
Benchmarking Co-Ordination Office - established in 1997 to manage Framework
Conditions benchmarking projects and the dedicated website on benchmarking
on behalf of the European Commission - and provides information on
benchmarking, all projects, initiatives and committees undertaken by the
European Commission in benchmarking along with a comprehensive database of
benchmarking projects and contacts in Europe.

For more information, contact: Lorraine McKenna, Benchmarking Co-Ordination
Office, c/o Irish Productivity Centre, Blanchardstown Corporate Park, Ground Floor Suite 4B-5, Dublin 15, Ireland.  Tel: 00 353 1 662 32 33
E-mail: benchmarking@ipc.ie

For more information about the website Click here

Joint initiative of the European Commission and the European Round Table of Industrialists

The European Commission and the European Round Table of Industrialists (ERT) jointly hosted a seminar in Brussels in March 1996 on 'Benchmarking for Competitiveness'. The seminar examined the different areas in which benchmarking was currently being used - businesses, governments, European industry - and considered 'whether there were any common principles that could be explored and whether benchmarking was a useful exercise to be broadcast more widely in the policy-making area'.

To order the ERT report, 'Benchmarking for Policy-Makers: The Way to Competitiveness, Growth and Job Creation' (October 1996), and to access more information: www.ert.be

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