Benchmarking is vital to TQM, mostly because it helps to enhance performance and transparency. The competitiveness of the organization and that organization's performance are both going to be enhanced when benchmarking is used. To benchmark quality, one has to look at what others in the industry are doing. While copying your competitors isn't necessarily the best way to do things, you do want to make sure you keep up with competing companies and industry standards so you can be open with your customers about how you operate your business.
