The Baldrige National Quality Program recognizes business performance excellence and quality achievement by U.S. manufacturers, service companies, educational organizations, and health care providers. In 1999, the Baldrige National Quality Program added health care as an award category. Members of the health care community worked with NIST in making this award a reality, recognizing that the Baldrige Award's tough performance excellence standards could help stimulate their improvement efforts as well. Other Resources NIST outreach programs work directly with business and industry to boost U.S. economic competitiveness. Many health care providers and manufacturers have benefitted by taking advantage of these programs.
Smaller manufacturers face many challenges in our technology-driven economy.
To help meet these challenges, NIST started the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program in 1988. This nationwide network of centers, now in all 50 states, has assisted more than 100,000 U.S. firms, including health care providers and manufacturers. The Baldrige National Quality Program recognizes performance excellence and quality achievement by U.S. manufacturers, service companies, educational organizations, and health-care providers. Health care companies have been competing for the Baldrige Award since it was established in 1988. In 1997, 3M Dental Products Division also won in the manufacturing category.