Basic math and English are covered, as well as more specialized education in statistical process control and operation of computer-controlled machinery. As the pace of global competition quickens, I encourage all U.S. companies to follow the examples of these winners by focusing on and investing in quality. The Baldrige Award was established by Congress in 1987 to promote quality awareness, recognize quality achievements of U.S. companies, and publicize successful quality strategies. The award is not given for specific products or services. ASQC has assisted NIST in administering the award since its inception.
Companies submit applications with details of their quality management systems.
These are evaluated by an independent board of quality experts. Applicants that pass an initial screening are visited by teams of examiners to verify information and clarify any issues that arose during the evaluation. The award was established by the Union of Japanese Scientists and Engineers in 1951 to honor W. Edwards Deming.