A TECHNOMETRIC ASSESSMENT OF SENSOR TECHNOLOGY IN ISRAEL VS EUROPE, THE USA AND JAPAN

'Technometrics' is a multidimensional index useful for assessing techn ological performance levels, sophistication and complexity of products , processes and services. Technometric profiles permit quantitative co mparisons of the quality of products between companies, industries and nations, and have proved helpful in constructing corporate innovation strategy and technology policy. The method of constructing technometr ic profiles is outlined, and accompanied by a technometric benchmarkin g case study of Israel's sensor industry in comparison with parallel p roducts in the USA, Europe and Japan. It is found that even such small players as Israel - whose GDP is only 1% that of the USA - are able t o establish a competitive sensor industry with quality comparable to t hat of their much larger competitors. Technometric assessment of produ ct performance is a useful tool for identifying market niches - custom ers whose needs are not met by existing products - and hence can help avoid fruitless, costly rivalry with firms who enjoy superior human an d capital resources.