Benchmarking a firm's performance against industry competitors is valuable because it can reveal which processes require improvement. By comparing key performance indicators (KPIs) with industry standards and best practices, firms can identify gaps in their operations and prioritize areas needing enhancement. This process-driven approach helps companies focus on specific improvements to gain competitive advantages.

A competitor's manufacturing processes may not be fully disclosed or comparable.

A firm's leadership ranking relative to industry peers provides insight but does not specify improvement areas.

That no further improvement is possible is unrealistic, as continuous improvement is a key principle in operations management.

References:

Camp, R. C. (1989). "Benchmarking: The Search for Industry Best Practices that Lead to Superior Performance."

Kaplan, R. S., & Norton, D. P. (1996). "The Balanced Scorecard: Translating Strategy into Action."