APQC Company Profile

Background

The American Productivity & Quality Center (APQC) is a non-profit organization established in 1977, headquartered in Houston, Texas. APQC specializes in benchmarking, best practices, process and performance improvement, and knowledge management. With over 40 years of experience, APQC serves more than 1,000 member organizations across 60 industries worldwide, providing research-based tools, performance assessments, and training to enhance organizational effectiveness.

Key Strategic Focus

APQC's strategic focus centers on assisting organizations in improving productivity and quality through:

Benchmarking and Best Practices: Offering access to the world's largest benchmarking database, encompassing over 6 million data points across more than 70 process areas.

Process and Performance Improvement: Providing methodologies and tools to standardize, document, and optimize business processes, including the globally recognized APQC Process Classification Framework (PCF).

Knowledge Management: Delivering research-backed resources, case studies, KPIs, tools, and templates to support knowledge sharing and organizational learning.

Financials and Funding

As a non-profit entity, APQC's financials are not publicly disclosed in detail. However, it is known that APQC has a revenue range of $25 to $50 million, with approximately 125 employees across five continents.

Pipeline Development

APQC does not develop products or services in the traditional sense; instead, it focuses on providing research, benchmarking data, and best practices to its members. Its "pipeline" consists of continuously updated resources, frameworks, and tools designed to assist organizations in process improvement and knowledge management.

Technological Platform and Innovation

APQC leverages several technological platforms and innovations to deliver its services:

Process Classification Framework (PCF): A globally recognized process model that standardizes business processes across various industries.

Benchmarking Portal: An online platform providing access to extensive benchmarking data and best practices.

Knowledge Base: A comprehensive repository of research-backed resources, including case studies, KPIs, tools, and templates.

Leadership Team

APQC's leadership team comprises experienced professionals dedicated to advancing the organization's mission:

Carla O'Dell: Chairman of the Board.

Lisa Higgins: President and Chief Executive Officer.

Perry Wiggins: Chief Financial Officer, Secretary & Treasurer.

Cathy Hill: Chief Development Officer.

Cindy Hubert: Fellow, Knowledge Management.

Harry Scarborough: Executive Director, Legal Affairs.

Amanda Schalyo: Executive Director, Marketing and Digital Experience.

Ashley White: Executive Director, Human Resources.

Nate Lavigne: Executive Director of Technology.

Christine Kelley: Director, Membership.

Jeffery Varney: Director, Advisory Services.

Laura Clymer: Director, Research.

Benjamin Knoll, Ph.D.: Manager, Survey and Analytics Hub.

Jonathan Kraft: Director, Open Standards Benchmarking.

Grayson: Chief Fun Officer.

This team brings a wealth of expertise to APQC, driving its initiatives in process improvement and knowledge management.

Market Insights and Competitor Analysis

The market for benchmarking, best practices, and process improvement services is competitive, with several organizations offering similar services. APQC distinguishes itself through its extensive benchmarking database, comprehensive process frameworks, and a strong focus on knowledge management.

Key competitors in this space include:

McKinsey & Company: A global management consulting firm offering services in strategy, operations, and organizational transformation.

Management Concepts: Provides training, consulting, and research services in areas such as acquisition, financial management, and performance management.

Great Place to Work: Specializes in workplace culture assessments and consulting to help organizations improve employee engagement and performance.

These competitors offer various services that overlap with APQC's offerings, but APQC's unique value proposition lies in its non-profit status, extensive benchmarking data, and focus on process and knowledge management.

Strategic Collaborations and Partnerships

APQC collaborates with numerous organizations to enhance its offerings, including:

Iknow LLC: A long-standing sponsor of APQC's annual knowledge management conference and lead professional services partner on KM Maturity Model projects.

IBM: Utilizes APQC's Process Classification Framework® (PCF) to tailor business processes and integrate organizations during mergers and acquisitions.

Schlumberger Limited: Employs APQC's benchmarking portal and PCF to improve efficiency and performance in its finance organization.

Operational Insights

APQC's non-profit model allows it to focus on delivering value to its members without the pressures of profit generation. This structure enables APQC to reinvest resources into research and development, continually enhancing its benchmarking data, process frameworks, and knowledge management resources.

Strategic Opportunities and Future Directions

APQC is well-positioned to leverage emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, to enhance its benchmarking and knowledge management services. By integrating these technologies, APQC can provide more sophisticated analytics and insights to its members, further solidifying its position as a leader in process and performance improvement.