Baldrige Program Overview

The TQM model stems from the work of W. Edwards Deming, Philip B. Crosby, Joseph M. Juran, and others. These management theory pioneers helped the field of quality evolve from simple quality assurance and control into the major movement of Total Quality Management.

In 1992, a model akin to that of the Baldrige Award was created by the European Foundation of Quality Management and is now the basis for the European Quality Award. Today, hundreds of quality awards focusing on a systems approach to performance excellence are given in countries all over the world and most U.S. states.

Many organizations employ the Baldrige criteria and framework to evaluate their performance, so that they can properly compare themselves to similar organizations. At STAT-A-MATRIX, we believe that the most important outcome of this process is setting your organization on the path to performance excellence, not applying for and winning an award.

STAT-A-MATRIX founder Dr. Stanley A. Marash was one of the original examiners for Baldrige Award. Because of this unique perspective, our consultants understand that it's imperative for organizations to achieve performance excellence in order to succeed in today's competitive marketplace. To accomplish this, organizations must operate at a variety of different levels and with many different viewpoints. The Baldrige Award creates the framework for organizations to think strategically.

As the accompanying diagram shows, the Baldrige Model focuses on operational excellence. To achieve this, organizations utilize a variety of improvement methodologies, such as those depicted here. The Baldrige Model does not replace these methodologies, but instead melds these tools and methods together to help companies attain excellence.

This illustration, which the national Baldrige Program employs, demonstrates how the Baldrige Framework relates to Lean and Six Sigma. Additionally, the Baldrige Program's directive notes, "The Baldrige Criteria, Lean, and Six Sigma are complementary, not mutually exclusive. Many organizations use Baldrige to develop an overall performance map to identify areas that need improvement, and then they use Six Sigma, Lean, or both tools to design operations or improve processes within the organization."

STAT-A-MATRIX also maintains this view and can teach your organization the Lean and Six Sigma improvement tools, along with others that we have developed, to help you gain a competitive edge in your market.

STAT-A-MATRIX has created a range of programs to help organizations attain excellence, including:

• The Criteria for Performance Excellence is a series of booklets that help organizations at various stages of the Baldrige application process. They address topics such as conducting organizational self-assessments, assembling applications for the Baldrige Award, and employing feedback that organizations receive concerning their applications. Included are such valuable tools as the core values and concepts, the criteria for each of the seven categories of performance review, scoring guidelines, and other similarly helpful information. This version of the Criteria is also known as the Criteria for Business and Nonprofit Organizations.
• Healthcare Criteria for Performance Excellence is an adapted version of the Baldrige Criteria specially developed for the healthcare industry. This version was created in response to the large number of healthcare providers now interested in improving their performance in today's evermore competitive healthcare marketplace. In fact, in the last decade national and state award programs have seen a significant increase in the number of healthcare organizations applying for excellence awards. In that same period, nearly a dozen healthcare organizations received the Baldrige Award. Because they are trained Baldrige examiners, STAT-A-MATRIX's consultants are aware of the differences in the criteria that apply to healthcare organizations. We can help your organization evaluate your readiness for an application; alternatively, we can assist you in comparing your performance to the Healthcare Criteria for Performance Excellence. We can work with you to uncover exactly what your organization needs to address as you go examine your patient care, review your healthcare outcomes, and evaluate your processes for healthcare delivery.
• Education Criteria for Performance Excellence is a version of the Baldrige Criteria that focuses on the specific situations of educational institutions. Because the educational marketplace is growing more crowded every year, many institutions are turning their attention to performance excellence as a means of staying competitive. In the last several years, the number of educational organizations applying for excellence awards as increased dramatically on the state and national level, and several of these institutions have received the Baldrige Award. Because STAT-A-MATRIX's consultants are trained Baldrige examiners, they understand the differences in the criteria that apply to educational groups. We can assist you and your team as you assess your readiness for an application, or compare your performance to the Education Criteria for Performance Excellence. With STAT-A-MATRIX's help, your organization can come to understand what to focus on as you examine your relationships with students and other stakeholders, create your student learning outcomes, and evaluate your processes to give the utmost value.
• The Baldrige Framework depicts the interrelationships among the seven categories of the Criteria and the eighth section of the application (known as the Organizational Profile). The accompanying diagram presents the Leadership triad, which is composed of three interrelated categories (Leadership, Strategic Planning, and Customer and Market Focus), as well as the Results triad, which is also comprised of three interrelated categories (Workforce Focus, Process Management, and Results). These six categories are supported by the category of Measurement, Analysis, and Knowledge Management, which supplies the measures and analysis needed to evaluate the triads and their individual categories. The Organizational Profile aids an organization to analyze its environment, business relationships, and challenges.

• Self-Assessment Forms (in three separate versions: business and nonprofit, healthcare, and education) are available for organizations to evaluate their performance and ascertain if they should apply for the award. The Baldrige group is quick to note that the ultimate purpose of the application process is not the award itself, but rather the quest to achieve performance excellence. It hopes that all organizations will embark on this quest in order to improve their presence the ever-growing global marketplace.
  • Form for business and nonprofit organizations
  • Form for healthcare organizations
  • Form for educational organizations

For more information on STAT-A-MATRIX's Baldrige-related offerings, please contact us at 1-800-472-6477.