Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to conduct benchmarking exercises through the identification of appropriate benchmarks. It also describes the skills required to use benchmarking to focus enterprise operations and improve performance. In the meat industry, benchmarking is a tool for informing, measuring and developing an enterprise's performance.
This unit is suitable for all managers working in a meat industry context and supports them in fulfilling their responsibility to measure, evaluate and improve enterprise performance. This unit is applicable to engineers, refrigeration/chiller managers, production and operations managers, workplace health and safety, environment, quality, Human Resources (HR), finance, livestock, and logistics managers.
At this level individuals exercise considerable responsibility and accountability within enterprise structures and are required to make primary contributions to the values, goals and operations of the enterprise. They will typically have responsibility for establishing and reviewing systems for their site or department. They may work with the assistance of external experts to develop plans and strategies.
This unit must be delivered using Australian meat industry standards and regulations.
No occupational licensing, legislative or certification requirements are known to apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Element | Performance criteria |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Identify the need for benchmarking | 1.1 Identify benchmarking as a tool for achieving strategic goals in enterprise planning processes 1.2 Analyse customer requirements, perceptions and satisfaction data to identify the need for improvement 1.3 Analyse competitor's products or processes to identify the need for improvement 1.4 Analyse company processes to determine potential improvements to efficiency 1.5 Analyse regulatory requirements to identify the need for improvement |
2. Prepare for benchmarking | 2.1 Determine scope and parameters of the benchmarking exercise according to enterprise priorities and plans 2.2 Estimate benchmarking resource requirements and include them in budgets and operational plans 2.3 Plan benchmarking strategies around realistic time frames and enterprise planning cycles 2.4 Identify and plan communication and mathematical requirements 2.5 Develop benchmarking goals in consultation with stakeholders 2.6 Select benchmarking teams according to agreed criteria 2.7 Confirm team roles and responsibilities and deliver training accordingly 2.8 Schedule and document benchmarking activities following consultation with stakeholders 2.9 Establish and agree criteria for internal and external benchmarking with benchmarking team 2.10 Identify internal and external benchmarking partners or sources, according to the scope, parameters and goals of the benchmarking exercise 2.11 Develop cooperative and open relationships with benchmark partners |
3. Undertake benchmarking activity | 3.1 Identify and negotiate logistical requirements and impacts of the benchmarking exercise with stakeholders 3.2 Develop statistical analysis and measurement frameworks 3.3 Develop and agree problem-solving processes 3.4 Analyse and document own enterprise or department functions, processes and operations according to agreed criteria 3.5 Analyse and document benchmarking partner's functions, processes, operations and performance outcomes 3.6 Compare performance to identify compatibility of measurement data, commonalities, trends, differences and gaps 3.7 Communicate comparisons or benchmarking reports to benchmarking partners according to agreement 3.8 Develop strategies for change from analysing and evaluating divergences and gaps |
4. Capitalise on benchmarking outcomes | 4.1 Identify opportunities for using benchmarking and benchmarking data in continuous improvement processes 4.2 Build customer consultation and feedback into continuous improvement processes 4.3 Support enterprise personnel during the change process 4.4 Measure and report improvements resulting from the benchmarking processes to stakeholders 4.5 Use benchmarking information to develop the enterprise's competitive advantage and market profile |
Evidence of Performance
Effective management and/or facilitation of a benchmarking process, including related improvement activities, must be demonstrated.
The candidate must:
determine criteria identifying appropriate benchmarking partners and maintaining positive partner relationships, in accordance with enterprise goals and directions
access industry and enterprise benchmarking data
analyse and interpret a range of complex qualitative and quantitative data relating to enterprise operations and benchmarking activities
apply relevant communication and mathematical skills
identify enterprise goals and directions and explain the role of benchmarking in achieving enterprise goals
develop and maintain positive relationships with benchmarking partners
work effectively as an individual and as a member of a team
use effective communication, negotiation and leadership skills in a range of benchmarking interactions, including with benchmarking teams, benchmarking partners and internal stakeholders
use problem-solving skills in a range of situations
use information and communications technology including performance management, project management, statistical and modelling software
prepare a strategy for gathering and analysing customer feedback
develop a financial model for measuring Return On Investment (ROI) for benchmarking processes
develop and implement a communication and marketing strategy to inform stakeholders (including senior management, personnel at all levels of the organisation and customers) of benchmarking goals, progress and outcomes
prepare benchmarking action plans that specify resource requirements, methodologies, milestones, communication strategies and timelines, including mechanisms for linking with enterprise planning cycles and continuous improvement strategies
develop and implement strategies for the resolution of logistic, resource, cultural, ethical and political issues raised during the benchmarking process, including scheduling team member release and involvement, supporting individuals through change, managing group dynamics, handling confidentiality and commercially sensitive information, and dealing with diversity
develop performance indicators for the enterprise, function, department or process being benchmarked
implement the findings of benchmarking exercise including interpreting benchmarking results, identifying areas for improvements, building findings into targets and planning,
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate an in depth technical and theoretical knowledge of:
the role of performance indicators in benchmarking
the difference between performance and process benchmarking
relevant workplace health and safety, environmental, animal welfare and biosecurity, workplace and regulatory requirements
the critical factors required for successful and effective benchmarking processes and outcomes, and the implications of enterprise benchmarking activities
Assessment Conditions
Competency must be demonstrated through sustained performance over time, at an appropriate level of responsibility and authority under typical operating and production conditions for the enterprise.
Methods of assessment must include:
a third-party referee report of sustained performance at appropriate level of authority and responsibility
assignment focusing on understanding and application of principles and theory to workplace operations
simulation, workplace or industry projects focusing on company/industry environment and conditions
Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs.
Foundation Skills
Foundation Skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.