Within a company, a metric is used to:

Establishing a baseline measurement is crucial for process improvements because it allows a company to understand the current performance level in a measurable way. This baseline serves as a point of reference against which future performance can be evaluated. By comparing process metrics to the baseline, organizations can identify areas needing improvement and assess the impact of any changes made to processes. This analytic approach is fundamental in continuous improvement methodologies, such as Lean and Six Sigma, where data-driven decision-making is key to fostering efficiency and effectiveness in production processes.

While training employees, providing customer service, and monitoring financial performance are all important functions within a company, they do not specifically relate to the established purpose of a metric in the context of facilitating process improvement. Metrics that focus on process performance help pinpoint inefficiencies and guide targeted strategies for enhancement more effectively.