Congress established the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (MBNQA) in 1987 for manufacturers, service businesses, and small businesses. The education and healthcare categories were added in 1999. The MBNQA was designed to raise awareness of quality management and recognize U.S. companies that have implemented successful quality-management systems. The MBNQA is named after the late Secretary of Commerce Malcolm Baldrige, a proponent of quality management. The U.S. Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology and the American Society for Quality administer the award.

Texas and other states also have a Baldrige award program. In Texas the Quality Texas Foundation administers the Texas Award for Performance Excellence every year. The TAPE is patterned after the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and is an annual recognition of Texas organizations that excel in performance and the application of quality and customer satisfaction principles.

The President of the United States annually presents the Malcolm Baldrige Award to organizations that demonstrate quality and performance excellence. The MBNQA annually presents three awards in each of five categories: manufacturing, services, small business, education, healthcare, and non-profit. Click here for more details.

The Malcolm Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence is an integrated approach that any organization can use to improve overall performance. The criteria have been used by thousands of organizations of all kinds for self-assessment and training and as a tool to develop performance and business processes.

The Baldrige criteria provide strategic questions to evaluate your organization’s health and level of planning and execution. The criteria are updated annually and are available for no charge at the NIST website. For more information on Baldrige Consulting, go to:

Baldrige Award Application – apply for the most prestigious organizational award for quality and in the process increase productivity, satisfy your employees and customers, and increase profitability

Baldrige Criteria Implementation – utilize and implement the Baldrige Criteria to enhance performance across your organization and discover your best strengths and current opportunities for improvement