Abstract:
An exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to a web-based method and system for facilitating multi-enterprise benchmarking activities and performance analysis capabilities across an industry. The method comprises receiving metrics data at a web site from multiple equipment devices associated with multiple subscribing enterprises; evaluating the metrics data; providing summary reports to the subscribing enterprises; performing calculations on the summary reports; generating an industry summary report; and providing the industry summary report to the subscribing enterprises for comparative analysis and business planning. The system includes a hosting system for executing the multi-enterprise benchmarking application, subscribing enterprises which are in communication with the hosting system via a network connection, and equipment devices operating within the subscribing enterprises.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to enterprise benchmarking, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a web-based method and system for facilitating multi-enterprise benchmarking activities and performance analysis capabilities across an industry.  
           [0002]    Business enterprises today are continuously seeking new and improved methods of producing goods and services in order to stay on top of their competitors. With the advent of Internet technologies and the expanding global marketplace fostered by the Internet, staying competitive requires continuously developing new and innovative business methods. Many commercial software providers have developed solutions designed to assist in these endeavors ranging from customized point solutions for solving specific problems to large scale, extensible enterprise resource planning applications. Additionally, applications service providers (ASPs) and commercial applications are abundant in areas such as data warehousing and data mining functions for assisting businesses in making sense of the vast amounts of data collected throughout a production cycle. This information can then be presented in a summarized fashion to provide valuable marketing reports, sales reports, and other useful data. Further, analyzing market trends and linking socio-economic data to these data can provide invaluable insight useful in developing future planning strategies. Measuring changes in these data over time allows management to predict patterns or cycles of behaviors and be more pro-active in adopting or refining business goals. Many businesses today now employ benchmarking techniques whereby performance goals are established relative to specific employees, production cycles or outputs, error reduction processes, etc. These internally devised benchmarks are then compared with actual performance data and analyzed for possible inefficiencies, problem sources, and solutions. Although this information may be quite beneficial, it does not paint a complete picture for the business with respect to how it is performing relative to its competitors.  
           [0003]    What businesses today are lacking are useful industry-wide performance data which can be evaluated against established industry-wide benchmarking data in order to determine statistically how a business is performing relative to other businesses which are similarly situated, either geographically or by industry. Benchmarking data provides standards of typical competence units used for the basis of making comparisons. They may be proprietary in that a business adopts its own standards or goals for comparative analysis or may span an entire industry in order to evaluate an individual business&#39; performance levels compared to other similar businesses in that industry. Imagine how useful production metrics analyzed on an industry-wide scale could be to a business involved in that industry. Businesses would be able to measure and compare their performance and production metrics to those of their competitors in order to gain a picture of where they fall within the established industry spectrum. For obvious reasons, however, competitors do not typically release their performance data to outsiders. This type of information is generally confidential in nature and closely guarded.  
           [0004]    It is therefore desirable to provide a web-based method and system for facilitating multi-enterprise benchmarking activities and analysis for similarly situated businesses within an industry without jeopardizing the integrity of confidential or proprietary information. Certain information acquired can then be used by these businesses to develop and implement new and improved production processes and business plans.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    An exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to a web-based method and system for facilitating multi-enterprise benchmarking activities and performance analysis capabilities across an industry or region. The method comprises receiving metrics data at a web site from multiple equipment devices associated with multiple subscribing enterprises; evaluating the metrics data; providing summary reports to the subscribing enterprises; performing calculations on the summary reports; generating an industry summary report; and providing the industry summary report to the subscribing enterprises for comparative analysis and business planning. The system includes a hosting system for executing the multi-enterprise benchmarking application, subscribing enterprises which are in communication with the hosting system via a network connection, and equipment devices operating within the subscribing enterprises. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]    The present invention is described below with reference to the following drawing figures of which:  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a portion of a network system on which the multi-enterprise benchmarking application is implemented in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 is a master database table of account records by industry;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 is a flowchart describing the multi-enterprise benchmarking process as implemented by the multi-enterprise benchmarking tool in a network environment;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 4 is a flowchart describing the multi-enterprise benchmarking process as implemented by the multi-enterprise benchmarking tool manually executed; and  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 5 is a sample summary report illustrating performance metrics of a subscribing enterprise as compared to other enterprises within an industry.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0012]    With reference to FIG. 1, a multi-enterprise benchmarking system is discussed. System  100  includes a hosting enterprise  102  including a server  104  in communication with workstations  106  and data storage device  110  via a network connection  108 . Server  104  operates web server software suitable for handling general communications protocols and transport layer activities. Web server software running on server  104  may be capable of accommodating various forms of communications including voice, video, and text. Server  104  is also operating applications software such as groupware applications, email software, and the multi-enterprise benchmarking application of the present invention. Workstations  106  receive and send data to server  104  via network  108 . Network  108  may comprise a LAN, WAN, or other network configuration known in the art. Further, network  108  may include wireless connections, radio-based technologies, telephony-based communications, and combinations of the above. Workstations  106  may be either personal computers, laptops, personal digital assistants, or any similar communications device known in the art.  
         [0013]    Data storage device  110  is any form of mass storage device configured to read and write database type data maintained in a file store (e.g., a magnetic disk data storage device). Of course, it will be appreciated that data storage device  110  may be one that consists of multiple disk sub-systems which may be geographically dispersed and coupled via network architecture. There is no positive requirement that data storage device  110  be maintained in one facility; to the contrary, the volume of information stored therein may dictate geographical dispersion and the like. All that is required is that data storage device  110  be logically addressable as a consolidated data source across a distributed environment such as a network system. The implementation of local and wide-area database management systems to achieve the functionality of data storage device  110  will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. Information stored in data storage device  110  is retrieved and manipulated by an internal database manager. Data storage device  110  houses databases of information used by hosting enterprise  102  including records of subscribing enterprises to the multi-enterprise benchmarking tool, summaries of performance data for individual subscribing enterprises, combined summaries of groups of similarly situated subscribing enterprises by industry and/or geographic region, file histories pertaining to subscribing enterprises, etc. Hosting enterprise  102  also includes a firewall  112  for facilitating secure network communications between external entities and its internal devices. Firewall  112  may be software running on server  104  or may be a separate system device generally known in the art for intercepting and screening incoming data such as gateways, proxy servers, and filters.  
         [0014]    Each of subscribing enterprises  120 ,  130  and  140  is in communication with hosting enterprise  102  via a network connection. Each of subscribing enterprises  120 ,  130 , and  140  comprise a web server  124 ( a - c ), respectively that connects associated workstations  122 ( a - c ) to intranets  126 ( a - c ) respectively and to the Internet. Each of workstations  122 ( a - c ) may access associated web servers  124 ( a - c ) via internal web browsers located on workstations  122 ( a - c ) respectively (not shown). Each of enterprises  120 - 150  may be an existing or prospective subscriber of hosting enterprise  102  and may be a supplier or manufacturer. Additionally, enterprises  120 - 150  each include multiple equipment devices. Although three equipment devices  127 ,  128 , and  129  are shown in  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 for each of enterprises  120 - 150 , any number of equipment devices may be employed. Further, it is not necessary that enterprises  120 ,  130  and  140  communicate via the Internet to achieve the advantages of the present invention. Any suitable network configuration will suffice, such as extranet or wireless technologies. Enterprise  150  is also included in system  100  however, it is not connected to the Internet. Enterprise  150  operates three equipment devices  127   d ,  128   d , and  129   d  which are physically attended by personnel of enterprise  150  in order to collect data for analysis by the multi-enterprise benchmarking tool. This process is described further in FIG. 4.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary master database table  200  containing records of subscribing enterprises or companies for a given industry. Table  200  lists three participating companies, Company A  120 , Company B  130  and Company C  140 . Within each of companies  120 ,  130  and  140  there are operating manufacturing equipment devices ED 1  through ED n , where ‘n’ is any variable indicating the quantity of equipment devices utilized by each of companies A  120 , B  130 , and C  140 . Equipment devices ED 1  through ED n  are listed in row  208  of Table  200 . Further, each equipment device supports a number of metrics fields indicating performance factors to be measured by the multi-enterprise benchmarking tool and are indicated in Table  200  as M 1  through M n  in column  210 . Thus, for example, column  212  lists values associated with metrics obtained by equipment device ED 1  for each of companies A  120 , B  130 , and C  140 . ED 1  correlates to Company A&#39;s  120  equipment device  127   a , Company B&#39;s  130  equipment device  127   b , Company C&#39;s  140  equipment device  127   c , and Company D&#39;s  150  equipment device  127   d  of FIG. 1. Values provided in these fields may be either numeric or other quantifiable measurement, depending upon the type of performance metric specified. Any number of companies may be participators in the multi-enterprise benchmarking program so long as they fall within an industry category defined by the multi-enterprise benchmarking tool. Additionally, considerable numbers of metrics fields M 1  through M n  may be established by the multi-enterprise benchmarking tool and selected for measurement by participating enterprises. Likewise, the multi-enterprise benchmarking tool is capable of providing measurement collection and analysis for any number of equipment devices ED 1  through ED n  for a given company or customer. Once collected, this raw data is transferred to a database in data storage device  110  in accordance with a subscriber&#39;s individual preferences for analysis and reporting by the multi-enterprise benchmarking tool and which is further described in FIGS. 3 and 4. Subscribing enterprises such as enterprises  120 ,  130 , and  140  may download or receive an individual summary reports relating personal performance data by choosing any criteria or field available via the multi-enterprise benchmarking tool and desired by the company. Summary data includes not only the subscriber&#39;s performance measurements, but also how these measurements compare with industry standards. Low measurements in identified categories can be used by a subscriber to catalyze the implementation of new manufacturing or business process plans. Further, a subscribing enterprise may adjust or redefine its performance or production metrics requirements via the multi-enterprise benchmarking tool to accommodate changing business needs.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 illustrates the multi-enterprise benchmarking process flow via a network system as implemented by a subscriber such as enterprise  120 ,  130 , or  140  of FIG. 1. Utilizing enterprise  120  as an example, a first equipment device  127   a  is powered on and begins operations at step  300 . Equipment device  127   a  feeds data to workstation  122   a  which in turn alerts system  102  to receive data via servers  124   a  and  104  over the Internet at step  302 . Workstation  122   a  then begins to feed the data received by equipment device  127   a  automatically and directly to system  102  for processing at step  304 . Down times, system failures, and power outages are all tracked by the multi-enterprise benchmarking tool at step  306  and used to explain or support the performance data (or lack thereof) for reporting and analysis purposes. Notifications or warnings of such failures may also be automatically transmitted to Company A  120  for information and corrective action at step  308 . Types of data collected vary according to the nature of equipment device being used by an enterprise. Hard data is collected but also soft or ‘fuzzy’ data such as materials performance, defect density, vendor support and services, vendor-managed inventory, etc. are collected. At a predefined time interval, or T n , the data collected is transferred to Company A&#39;s  120  account in storage for further processing at step  310 . T n  may be a time frame for collecting data such as an increment of minutes, hours, days, etc., and may be determined by Company A  120  and/or the multi-enterprise benchmarking tool. Specified data from Company A&#39;s  120  account is extracted periodically from storage at step  312  where the multi-enterprise benchmarking application performs calculations on the data ( 313 ). These calculations can include any number or types of statistical functions or equations relevant in the art, and may produce output numbers indicating an enterprise&#39;s production process complete with R 2  values when integrating supplier value, waste (e.g., engineering oversight, management inefficiency due to lower K production methods, etc.). Once completed, the multi-enterprise benchmarking tool generates a comprehensive summary report tailored to Company A  120  at step  314 . A profile summary is generated from the summary report and delivered to the master data file database at step  316 . Statistical analysis is performed on this data along with data summaries from other subscribers such as enterprises  130 ,  140 , and  150  for improved data reporting at step  317 . An industry-wide summary report  500  is generated at step  318  where it can be automatically transferred to subscribing companies  120 ,  130 , and  140  or downloaded on demand. All confidential information is removed from report  500  so that subscribing companies  120 - 150  will not know the identities of the competitors or fellow subscribers in the report except that each subscribing company  120 - 150  will know how it is rated in the mix of subscribers. The summary report may provide a cost of ownership indicator, apprising soft costs and hard cost giving active participating subscribers a fair value to which their process can be compared. This comparison an occur on a regular and real time basis since it is always calculating through timely updates via the web. A sample summary report  500  is illustrated in FIG. 5.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is a flowchart describing the multi-enterprise benchmarking process as implemented by non-networked and/or non-automated industry subscribers such as Company D  150  in FIG. 1. These customers are either not connected to the Internet or have equipment that is not automated or connected to a computer processor. The equipment devices  127   d ,  128   d , and  129   d  employed by Company D  150  generate data which is manually transcribed or related to personnel of Company D  150  and must be physically relayed or delivered to the multi-enterprise benchmarking tool. To illustrate, at step  402  equipment device  127   d  is powered on. Various measurements are collected from equipment device  127   d  by Company D at step  404 , as well as equipment failures at step  406  and are sent to the multi-enterprise benchmarking system at step  408 . Delivery may be by telephone, regular mail, facsimile, or other generally known means of delivery known in the art. The multi-enterprise benchmarking tool performs calculations on the measurements at step  410  similar to those described in FIG. 3 and generates a summary report at step  412 . A hard copy is sent to Company D  150  at step  414 , and a digital copy is delivered to the profile master data file in data storage device  110  at step  416 . Statistical analysis is performed on this data along with data summaries from other subscribers such as enterprises  130 ,  140 , and  150  for improved data reporting at step  417 . An industry-wide summary report  500  is generated by the tool at step  418  and a hard copy is delivered to Company D  150  at step  420 .  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 is a sample summary report  500  broken down for a specified industry. Summary report  500  details performance indicators relating to inspections and production metrics processed by the multi-enterprise benchmarking tool. The enterprise for which this report was generated has an overall efficiency rating of 70% for the current period  504 . This means that the enterprise rates among its competitors in the 70 th  percentile. This figure compares to the previous period  506 , in which the enterprise was rated at 72%. The efficiency rating rules are pre-defined by the multi-enterprise benchmarking tool. The criteria used to rate the subscribing enterprises, and the types of metrics measured vary by industry and/or subscriber. As this information can be updated frequently, subscribers are better able to make instant business decisions in response to changing values and performance indicators. Additionally, a subscriber may develop employee incentive plans targeted to those areas found to be in need of improvement utilizing this data. These reports can also be used as a tool to entice existing and potential trading partners to acquire and maintain business relationships with the subscriber. Simply knowing that a subscriber is participating in such a program and that various benchmarking tools are in place may itself provide reassurance and added confidence in third parties who are considering doing business with the subscriber. Trusted vendors may even be permitted access to on-line viewing of a subscriber&#39;s reports for motivating such vendors to maintain existing partnerships and dealings.  
         [0020]    Having fully described the present invention by way of example with reference to the attached drawing figures, it will be readily appreciated that many changes and modifications may be made to the invention and to any of the exemplary embodiments shown and/or described herein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.  
         [0021]    As described above, the present invention can be embodied in the form of computer-implemented processes and apparatuses for practicing those processes. The present invention can also be embodied in the form of computer program code containing instructions embodied in tangible media, such as floppy diskettes, CD-ROMs, hard drives, or any other computer-readable storage medium, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes an apparatus for practicing the invention. The present invention can also be embodied in the form of computer program code, for example, whether stored in a storage medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, such a over electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via electromagnetic radiation, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes an apparatus for practicing the invention. When implemented on a general-purpose microprocessor, the computer program code segments configure the microprocessor the create specific logic circuits.