Baldrige Quality Award

What is the Baldrige Quality Award?

The Baldrige National Quality Program to improve competitiveness is sponsored by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Founded in 1987, the program offers businesses seven rigorous criteria for assessing performance. These criteria help companies achieve strategic goals by aligning resources, improving communications, and increasing productivity and effectiveness. The first six criteria—Leadership, Strategic Planning, Customer and Market Focus, Information and Analysis, Human Resource Focus, and Process Management—address methods of Approach and Deployment, while the seventh considers Business Results.

These are further broken down into questions (e.g., “How do leaders set and deploy organizational values?”). Woven throughout are “Core Values and Concepts”—the precepts and practices found in high-performing organizations. 

Each year NIST issues updated Baldrige National Quality Program Criteria for Performance Excellence to be used in applying for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, or as a self-assessment tool to improve a business. Using the Baldrige criteria and scoring system, Iowa businesses may also apply for the Iowa Recognition for Performance Excellence (IRPE) award, administered by the Iowa Quality Center.

See in-depth information and related links.

What are the benefits of the Baldrige Quality Award?

• Studies show that businesses following Baldrige criteria outperform their competitors
• The Criteria and Core Values provide expert guidance on how to lead a business
• The process of writing an application for either the national or Iowa award offers organizations an opportunity for strategic evaluation

What can CIRAS do for my company?

CIRAS can introduce your company to the Baldrige National Quality Program Criteria for Performance Excellence concepts:

• Educate staff about the Criteria and Core Values
• Assist in writing and reviewing a self-assessment application
• Use the Criteria to help your organization establish strategic plans
• Link your business to IRPE and the Iowa Quality Center

What is my next step?