Inspired by last year’s successful first try at a “virtual
improvement day,” the Baldrige National Quality Program (BNQP) is
planning two online events this July and August when interested parties
can again recommend ways to better the program that guides organizations
toward innovation and performance excellence.
The Baldrige program at the National Institute of Standards and
Technology (NIST) collects suggestions throughout the year on
opportunities for improving the Baldrige Criteria for Performance
Excellence, the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award processes and
other key BNQP activities. For many years, the program held an annual
“Improvement Day” at NIST’s Gaithersburg, Md., campus at which
stakeholders could review, consolidate, filter, prioritize and recommend
which suggestions should be implemented. In 2009, the event went
virtual for the first time by expanding to three separate online
discussion sessions. These Virtual Improvement Days proved so successful
that they’re back for 2010.
The Baldrige program will consider all recommendations for
improvement during events on July 27, 2010, and Aug. 2, 2010, from 1 – 4
p.m. Eastern time both days. A third date will be announced soon.
Anyone wishing to participate in one of the sessions should register
by sending an e-mail to iday@nist.gov. The account also may be
used to send improvement suggestions prior to the virtual events.
Members of the professional social media site LinkedIn can send in
suggestions by joining the Baldrige Improvement Discussion Group. Log
into your LinkedIn account, select “Groups” on the pull-down search menu
at the top of the home page, enter “Baldrige Improvement Discussion
Group,” and when the group page comes up, ask to join. Once you have
joined, click on the “Subgroup” tab and sign up for the “Improvement Day
2010” subgroup.
For more information, contact Bob Fangmeyer, robert.fangmeyer@nist.gov,
(301) 975-4781.
Media Contact: Michael E. Newman, michael.newman@nist.gov,
301-975-3025
