5. Benchmarking and Improving SME Performance

Required

Dan Luria, "Toward Lean or Rich? What Performance Benchmarking Tells Us About SME Performance and Some Implications for Extension Centers Services and Mission." In: Shapira and Youtie (Eds), Manufacturing Modernization: Learning from Evaluation Practices and Results, 1997. [ACROBAT *PDF 53K]

Review the World Wide Web site of the Performance Benchmarking Service at http://www.iti.org/pbs/aboutus.htm. You can also review the PBS mini-benchmarking site at The Expert Marketplace (sign up for free subscription first).

Philip Shapira and Jan Youtie, Understanding Program Impacts on Customers. Results from the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Alliance. School of Public Policy and Economic Development Institute, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta. 1996. (see also Table 1).

Additional Resources

Seventh Annual Grant Thornton Survey of American Manufacturers. Report: The Evolving Manufacturing Organization (Published September 1996).
Introduction: The Evolving Manufacturing Organization | Supply Chain Management: Tightening the Supply Chain | International Business: Exploiting the Global Marketplace | Technology: The Info-Savvy Manufacturer | Productivity & People: People Drive Performance | Survey Methodology

Eryn Brown, The Push to Streamline Supply Chains, Fortune, March 3, 1997. [ADOBE *PDF 301K]

Lawrence Mishel, "Rising Tides, Sinking Wages," The American Prospect no. 23 (Fall 1995) 60-64.