"Functional" refers to benchmarking that focuses on practices of a specific type, like marketing or manufacturing.  Functional benchmarking crosses industry boundaries.  The products, services and processes that are benchmarked may or may not be specific to the company's industry.  Many excellent business practices and processes can be benchmarked and utilized across industries.

L. L. Bean, the outdoor clothing manufacturer and Xerox Corporation provide an excellent example of Functional benchmarking.  L. L. Bean demonstrated excellence in the area of warehouse operations.  Xerox took advantage of an opportunity to examine the L. L. Bean operations first hand, and apply what they learned.  The fact that one organization's product is clothing and the other's is office equipment did not matter.  Once recognized, excellence in many functions can be adapted and modeled throughout organizations.

What business practice or process is your organization striving to improve.  Whether it is operational measures, quality issues, customer loyalty, or any other aspect of your business, there are best practice companies to compare against and learn from.  Success Profiles can help your company implement a benchmark marking process to attain the performance levels of the best companies in the world.  Ask us how