History

The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award is given by the President of the United States to businesses - manufacturing and service, small and large - and to education and health care organizations that apply. Those that apply are judged to be outstanding in seven (7) areas: leadership, strategic planning, customer and market focus, information and analysis, human resources focus, process management, and business results.

Congress established the award program in 1987 to recognize U.S. organizations for their achievements in quality and performance and to raise awareness about the importance of quality and performance excellence as a competitive edge. The award is not given for specific products and services. Three awards may be given annually in each of these categories: manufacturing, service, small business and starting in 1999, education and heath care. The award was established in the early to mid-1980’s and was envisioned as a standard of excellence that would help U.S. organizations achieve world-class quality.


The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award

The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award was created by Public Law 100-107, signed into law on August 20, 1987. The Award Program, responsive to the purposes of Public Law 100-107, led to the creation of a new public-private partnership.

Principal support for the program comes from the Foundation for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, established in 1988.

The Award is named for Malcolm Baldrige, who served as Secretary of Commerce from 1981 until his tragic death in a rodeo accident in 1987. His managerial excellence contributed to long-term improvement in efficiency and effectiveness of government.

“The economic liberty and strong competition that are indispensable to economic progress were principals that “Mac” Baldrige stressed…”

 “Too many accountants, lawyers and marketing people. What we need are some manufacturers and engineers calling the shots if America is to compete effectively in world markets.”