Benchmarking for small- to medium-sized enterprises

This paper identifies which benchmarking databases are available for small- to medium-sized enterprises and the best way to conduct a benchmarking project given the limiting factors which exist at che present time. First, the meaning of benchmarking and performance measures, and their importance to an enterprise are explained. Second: frameworks for the identification of critical performance measures are considered. Third, different types of industrial benchmarking are identified and defined. Fourth. publicly accessible databases are critically reviewed against the requirements of industrial benchmarking. Fifth, the results of the critical review are presented in tabular form. Sixth, conclusions are drawn as how best to proceed with a benchmarking project at the present time. Seventh, recommendations for how best to address the issues raised by the critical review are presented.