Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award (Essay Sample)

Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award
Name
Institution
Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award
The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality award aims at promoting quality and performance attentiveness in business (The National Institute of Standards and Technology, para. 2). Companies that have managed to receive this award have been trendsetters that are keen in continuous progress in products and services delivery, proving effective and reliable procedures in their specific industries. A company named Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control of Texas earned the award on November 14 2012 (The National Institute of Standards and Technology, para. 1). This paper examines its efforts in putting in place the criteria for the award, the procedures it had to go through and the benefits that accompany such awards. The Paper emphasizes their hardwork to appraise and continuously increase control programs and quality assurance.
Before applying to participate in evaluation for eligibility for this award, Lockheed took time to focus on development of key areas that are usually measured against the performance thresholds. James Berry, the president of the company clarifies that Lockheed did this by solidifying its market share, improving on process efficiency and strategic planning; ensuring the importance of customers when developing the products was paramount, strengthening teamwork through focused leadership and production of high quality products. After putting these in order, Lockheed went through the evaluation process to ascertain its eligibility for the award.
How the evaluation Process is conducted
After paying the review participation fees, Lockheed, alongside other participants, submitted details that clearly showed their improvements and achievements in knowledge management, process management, human resource management, strategic planning, leadership, consumer and marketplace assessment and analysis. A board of examiners chosen from a group of competitive applicants and including a variety of experts in all respective award categories was used to do the award eligibility analysis.
First, a board of examiners reviews applications from the participants. Every examiner writes reviews of their conclusions from the original application and awards marks to the applicants using a system designed for the award program after which a panel of judges then determines applicants that move to the next stage. The second stage involves a senior examiner who is responsible for gathering all of the material presented by the team of examiners. He or she ensures that the group attains unanimity on their view of the participant’s strengths and short comings. The team decides the participant’s general mark and addresses other aspects that are deemed necessary.
During the final stage, a visit to the site is made to participants that have qualified. This is done to validate details provided on the application, to evaluate records, and perform essential interviews. The visit also allows clarifications of any other unclear information emerging from the review process. Resulting reports are submitted for a conclusive multiple voting and a ranking process to a panel of judges to decide the winners (Cazzell & Ulmer, 2009).
Benefits
Besides low level of product defects, attaining quality leadership means organizations achieve the highest levels of excellence in all areas of organizational operations and performance (QualitiAmo, n.d.). Companies also adopt this for internal assessments and in-house awards programs. Quality award pr...