CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – September 28, 2007. Companies spend millions on their quality organizations, but money is wasted if the right processes and structures aren't in place to meet and exceed customers' high standards for product quality and product delivery.

A benchmarking report by Best Practices, LLC is detailing metrics and tactics that will help quality professionals implement robust systems that integrate the Voice of the Customer and raise organizational awareness for ongoing process improvement.

Executives from 38 world-class companies such as 3M, Bank of America, General Mills, Kraft and Coca-Cola, contributed to "Improving the Quality Function: Driving Organizational Impact & Efficiency" through their survey responses and in-depth interviews.

Download your complimentary report excerpt or purchase a copy of the report at http://www.best-in-class.com/rr859.htm to get your own glimpse into this compelling research.

Sample research findings from various Best Practices, LLC benchmarking studies show that:

• Quality Function Structure & Staffing: Leading quality organizations have fewer than 14 Quality Full-time Equivalent Employees (FTEs) per 1000 company employees to effectively respond to the broader organizational responsibility for quality. The average lies at 23.8 Quality FTEs per 1000 company employees.
  
• Quality Budget: Quality organization budgets range from $1 Million to greater than $50 Million.
• Process Efficiency: More than 75% of surveyed companies combine quality audits with certification, regulatory or standard audits as one way to drive efficiency. For example, one of the top-performing companies combines its Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) audits with quality audits.
• Risk Management: Risk management is managed by the corporate quality organization by 52% of the benchmarked companies. Only 33% of the benchmark class involves non-quality corporate personnel in this task.
• Design for Quality: Best companies employ a formalized process for assessing risk during the design phase by creating a standing team equipped with tools (depending on product or quality, these may include simulations and checklists), an oversight council and further assessments.

More specifically, 58 graphics and 96 metrics detail how top companies evaluate risk, organizational impact, value and performance within the quality function.

If this study is not meeting your current business needs, inquire about starting your own research study or internet survey. Our custom client research will answer your pressing business questions and provide you with actionable insights and process best practices. Please contact Anna Buhr, Manager of Research Operations at abuhr@best-in-class.com to learn more about custom research.