Utilisation Of Benchmarking Techniques For Fundamenting Development Strategies In The Manufacturing Industry In Romania

Benchmarking is a method used to measure the products, services and processes in comparison to an entity recognized as a leader in terms of performance of its operations. Used in the years 1970-1980 in the strategic management of the company currently has proven to be increasingly useful in many areas, including in international analysis models. In the European Union benchmarking indicators are used especially in the digital economy and as perspective indicators for 2011-2015 (Eurostat, Database). In the introduction we present and define forms of benchmarking, as well as a number of specific terms, which contribute to a better understanding of the content of this scientific work. Time series are used to highlight advances in labor productivity in EU countries, and the analysis is particularized for two countries: Romania and Germany. Quantitative data were collected from the source Eurostat website. A comprehensive indicator at macroeconomic level is resource productivity, representing GDP in relation with domestic consumption of material (DCM). DCM measures the amount of materials used directly by an economy. It is presented in tabular form for all European Union countries and Switzerland, as evolving over a period of eight years. Benchmarking method is used to highlight some differences (gaps) between EU countries regarding productivity and particularly the one between Germany and Romania is highlighted, concerning the performance of manufacturing industries. It is expected that this gap will diminish. The gap was highlighted by relevant graphics and interpretations. The second part of the paper focuses on comparative analysis of factors productivity using the production function. We analyze labor and capital productivity and other factors that determine the level of production. For highlighting the contribution of the labour factor we used the number of hours worked, considering that it reflects the analyzed phenomenon more realistically. For highlighting the contribution of capital factor we used as an indicator the capital stock in euros, available for Germany in the Eurostat database, and for Romania in the Statistical Yearbook 2009, expressed in RON, as comparable prices and then converted into euros at the average rate calculated by the NBR . The results for the entire manufacturing industry represent the basis for further expansion of benchmarking to the main components of this industry, especially automobile building, transportation vechicules, furniture, clothing, leather chemical, etc.., providing a scientific basis to fundament the economic policies including commercial ones.