What is the purpose of benchmarking in quality management?

Benchmarking in quality management serves primarily to compare an organization’s performance against best practices or industry standards. This process allows organizations to assess how they measure up to others in their field, identifying areas for improvement and understanding what high-performance looks like.

By engaging in benchmarking, organizations can gather data on key performance indicators (KPIs) and operational processes, which can reveal strengths and weaknesses relative to competitors or leaders in the industry. This comparison with external standards is essential because it drives continuous improvement, encouraging organizations to adopt best practices and innovate in their quality management strategies.

The other options may touch on aspects of performance improvement, but focusing solely on internal targets, customer satisfaction, or market opportunities does not encapsulate the critical purpose of benchmarking, which is rooted in external comparison for the sake of enhancing organizational performance.