Frequently asked questions What is the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award?
The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award was established in 1987 and has become the most respected standard for performance excellence among US companies and as a model for businesses world-wide. The award is named after Malcolm Baldrige, who served as the United States Secretary of Commerce under President Reagan. During his tenure, Baldrige played a major role in developing and carrying out administration trade policy. The award was established as an annual national quality award under Public Law 100-107, the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Improvement Act, signed by President Reagan on August 20, 1987. The purpose of the award is to promote awareness of quality and excellence, to recognize quality achievements of US companies and to publicize successful quality strategies. The Secretary of Commerce and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) were given responsibilities to develop and administer the award with cooperation and financial support from the private
