Benchmarking for auto parts

NEW DELHI, June 12: In order to improve the productivity and standards of the Indian automotive component industry, Automotive Component Manufacturers Association ACMA is association with the International Trade Centre ITC, Geneva, is in process of developing an International Competitiveness Gauge.

Through this gauge the Indian companies will be able to decide that how to improve, and in which areas improvement is required. quot;To carry out the task, ITC has engaged German experts to produce the methodology,quot; said Vishnu Mathur, Executive Director, ACMA.

quot;By the middle of 1998 it should be operationalquot; he added. The International Competitiveness gauge will be upgraded from time to time. It will be operated by trade and industry associations under ITC guidance. ITC will be funding the entire project and will work under the supervision of World Trade Organisation. The main idea behind developing a gauge is to enable Indian companies judge their performance with the companies abroad and improve accordingly. This will enable three types of performance comparisons. Firstly, individual company will be able to compare its competitiveness with other automotive component companies within the country. Secondly, an individual company will be able to compare its competitiveness with the leading international players. Finally, the automotive component industry as a whole can be compared with the best performers internationally.