The Panel of Judges for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality
Award, the nation’s highest recognition for organizational performance
excellence, has selected 16 organizations for the final review stage for
the 2010 award. Starting next month, teams of business, education,
health care and nonprofit experts will make site visits to two
organizations in the manufacturing category, four in small business, one
in service, one in education, seven in health care and one in
nonprofit. This is the first year since the addition of the newest
category, nonprofit (in 2007), in which organizations from all six
categories will receive site visits.
The Baldrige Program received 83 applications in 2010 (three
manufacturers, two service companies, seven small businesses, 10
educational organizations, 54 health care organizations and seven
nonprofit/governmental organizations). The applicants were evaluated
rigorously by an independent board of examiners in seven areas:
leadership; strategic planning; customer focus; measurement, analysis
and knowledge management; workforce focus; process management; and
results. Examiners will provide 300 to 1,000 hours of review to each
applicant receiving a site visit, and all applicants will receive a
detailed report on the organization’s strengths and opportunities for
improvement.
The 2010 Baldrige Award recipients are expected to be announced in late November, 2010.
Named after Malcolm Baldrige, the 26th Secretary of Commerce, the
Baldrige Award was established by Congress in 1987. The award—managed by
the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in
collaboration with the private sector—promotes excellence in
organizational performance, recognizes the achievements and results of
U.S. organizations, and publicizes successful performance strategies.
The award is not given for specific products or services. Since 1988, 80
organizations have received Baldrige Awards.
Thousands of organizations use the Baldrige Criteria for Performance
Excellence to guide their enterprises, improve performance and get
sustainable results. This proven improvement and innovation framework
offers organizations an integrated approach to key management areas.
For more information on the Baldrige National Quality Program, see www.nist.gov/baldrige.
Media Contact: Michael E. Newman, michael.newman@nist.gov, 301-975-3025
