Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award

The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (MBNQA) is the highest presidential honor in the United States for organizational performance excellence. The award recognizes organizations that have implemented successful quality management systems and are known for their resilience and long-term success.

The award was established by Congress in 1987 and is named after Malcolm Baldrige, the 26th Secretary of Commerce who was a proponent of quality management. The award's goals are to: Recognize role-model businesses, Establish criteria for evaluating improvement efforts, and Share best practices.

The award is given annually across six eligibility categories:

Manufacturing, Service, Small business, Education, Health care, and Nonprofit.

The award evaluates organizations in seven areas defined by the Baldrige Excellence Framework, including leadership, strategy, customers, measurement, analysis, and knowledge management.