Kaizen
ISO 9000:2K
CMMs
Registrars
State

 

Article

2000 Quality Awards Directory

Want to put your organization's quality management system to the test? Applying for a state or regional quality award is an excellent way to evaluate your QMS and improve your products or services.

by Brandi Floberg

 

On this page you will find Arizona through Minnesota
For Mississippi through Wisconsin
click here.

 

Canada--National Awards

Canada Awards for Excellence

  • John Perry or Cheryl McAnerin
  • National Quality Institute
  • 2275 Lakeshore Blvd. W., Suite 307
  • Toronto, ON M8V 3Y3 Canada
  • Phone: (416) 251-7600
  • Fax: (416) 251-9131
  • www.nqi.ca

 The Canada Awards for Excellence recognize excellence through quality and wellness in the workplace in both private and public sectors using the Canadian Quality Criteria or Healthy Workplace Criteria. Organizations must document their use of quality principles and practices and outline outcomes during the past three years.

Categories: Small, medium and large; service, education, government, health care, healthy workplace environments, associations and nonprofit organizations.

Schedule: April--applications due. Oct.--awards presentation.

 

United States--National Awards

Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award

  • National Institute of Standards and Technology
  • National Quality Program
  • Route 270 and Quince Orchard Road
  • Administration Building
  • Room A635
  • Gaithersburg, MD 20899
  • Phone: (301) 975-2036
  • Fax: (301) 948-3716
  • www.quality.nist.gov

 The Baldrige Award promotes an understanding of the requirements for performance excellence and competitiveness improvements and promotes sharing of information on successful performance strategies. The Secretary of Commerce and the National Institute of Standards and Technology develop and administer the award with cooperation and financial support from the private sector. Two awards may be given each year in each category. Seven areas of focus are examined: leadership, strategic planning, customer and market focus, information and analysis, human resource focus, process management, and business results.

Categories: Privately and publicly owned for-profit businesses with headquarters in the United States and its territories; for-profit and not-for-profit public, private and government education organizations that provide educational services to students in the United States and its territories; and for-profit and not-for-profit public, private and government health care organizations located in the United States and its territories and primarily engaged in providing medical, surgical or other health services directly to persons.

Schedule: April--eligibility forms due. May--award applications due.

 

The President's Quality Award Program

  • Office of Executive and Management Development
  • 1900 E St., Room 6468
  • Washington, DC 20415
  • (202) 606-5053
  • www.opm.gov/quality/

 The Performance Excellence Criteria are closely aligned with the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Criteria, with several modifications to reflect the government environment. Winners of the Presidential Award for Quality demonstrate mature approaches to performance excellence that are well-deployed throughout their organizations. Winners of the Award for Quality Improvement demonstrate early positive approaches to performance excellence.

Categories: Any part of the executive branch of the federal government with no fewer than 100 full-time federal employees.

Schedule: April--applications available. Oct.--applications submitted. Summer 2000--award ceremony.

 

Alabama

Alabama Quality Award

  • Linda Vincent
  • Alabama Productivity Center
  • P.O. Box 870318
  • Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
  • Phone: (205) 348-8994
  • Fax: (205) 348-9391
  • www.proctr.cba.ua.edu

 Examination categories include leadership, strategic planning, customer and market focus, information and analysis, human resource focus, process management, and business results. To qualify, applicants' productivity and quality efforts must be implemented within Alabama.

Categories: Small business, manufacturing, service (including government), education and health care.

Schedule: Oct.--awards ceremony.

 

Arizona

Arizona State Quality Award

  • Tim Jones
  • Arizona Quality Alliance
  • 7510 E. Main St., Suite 3
  • Scottsdale, AZ 85251
  • Phone: (480) 481-3454
  • Fax: (480) 481-3097
  • www.arizona-excellence.com

 The Governor's Award recognizes organizations that have mature quality systems and a sustained record of superior performance. There is no limit to the number of award recipients. The Arizona Pioneer Award for Quality recognizes organizations that have begun their quality journey by establishing and deploying fundamental quality systems and demonstrating a commitment to continuous improvement.

Categories: All organizations--public or private, profit or nonprofit. Small (up to 99 employees), medium (100-499 employees), large (500 or more employees).

Schedule: The award process runs from July through Dec.

 

Arkansas

Arkansas Quality Award

  • Barbara Harvel
  • 1111 W. Capital, Room 1013
  • Little Rock, AR 72201
  • Phone: (501) 373-1300
  • Fax: (501) 373-1976
  • www.arkansas-quality.org

 This award recognizes organizations that have met identified standards at four levels: quality interest (for organizations beginning to express interest in quality principles); quality commitment (for organizations demonstrating serious commitment to total quality management); quality achievement (for organizations demonstrating significant progress in building sound processes); and Governor's Quality Award (for organizations demonstrating the utmost in quality excellence).

Categories: Any Arkansas public or private organization.

Schedule: April--applications of intent due. May--award applications due. Oct.--awards announced.

 

California

California Governor's Quality Awards

  • Stephen V. Brooks
  • California Center for Quality, Education and Development
  • 1600 Main St., Suite 235
  • Walnut Creek, CA 94596
  • Phone: (925) 210-9766
  • Fax: (925) 944-3455
  • www.calqed.org

 The California Governor's Quality Award has three award levels: Level I, Commitment (for organizations that have made a serious commitment to quality); Level II, Achievement (for organizations that have demonstrated and implemented quality); and Level III, Excellence (There are five Excellence awards--Overall, Management, Marketplace, Workplace and Community--for organizations reaching the highest levels of performance excellence).

Categories: Open to all California organizations.

Schedule: May--eligibility application due. July/Aug.--award applications due. Dec.--awards announced.

 

Eureka Award for Performance Excellence U.S. Senate Productivity Award

  • Thomas Hinton
  • California Council for Quality & Service
  • P.O. Box 1235
  • Poway, CA 92074
  • Phone: (858) 486-0400
  • Fax: (858) 486-8595
  • www.ccqs.org

 The U.S. Senate Productivity Award is for manufacturers of all sizes. The Eureka Award offers seven categories. Both awards use the most current Baldrige Award criteria.

Categories: U.S. Senate Productivity Award: small manufacturer (fewer than 200 employees) and large manufacturer (200 or more employees). Eureka Award: large and small service, education, health care, nonprofit, government, and military.

Schedule: Aug.--applications due.

 

The California Prospector Award

  • California Council for Quality & Service
  • Address: Same as above

 The California Prospector Award is a short-form version of the Baldrige Award. It helps applicants advance their performance excellence initiative before committing to the extensive U.S. Senate Productivity or Eureka awards.

Categories: Open to all businesses.

Schedule: Applications received year-round except for Aug. and Sept.

 

The California Challenge

  • California Council for Quality & Service
  • Address: Same as above

 The California Challenge is a self-assessment program to help private and public sector applicants begin their journey toward performance excellence.

Categories: Open to all businesses.

Schedule: Applications received year-round except for Aug. and Sept.

 

Colorado

Better Business Bureau Excellence in Customer Service Award

  • Carol Odell
  • Better Business Bureau
  • 25 N. Wahsatch
  • Colorado Springs, CO 80903
  • Phone: (719) 636-5076, ext. 111
  • Fax: (719) 636-5078
  • www.coloradosprings.bbb.org

 The award recognizes and promotes excellence in customer service. Evaluators review applications based on these categories: collecting and analyzing data; action on data; customer service results; valuing customer service; and employee involvement, commitment and empowerment.

Categories: Any profit or nonprofit business in the Pikes Peak region.

Schedule: March--applications of intent due. May--award applications due. Sept.--awards presentation.

 

Connecticut

Connecticut Award for Excellence

  • Walter T. Cederholm
  • Connecticut Award for Excellence
  • P.O. Box 67
  • Rocky Hill, CT 06067
  • Phone: (800) 392-2122
  • Fax: (860) 721-8511

 The Connecticut Award for Excellence is a nonprofit venture between public and private sectors. There are three levels of recognition: the Nutmeg Award, for organizations beginning their quality journey; the Charter Oak Award, for those that have made substantial progress; and the Genius Award, which mirrors the Baldrige Award.

Categories: Manufacturing, service, state and local government, health care, and educational institutions.

Schedule: Sept.--eligibility applications due. Dec.--award applications due. May--awards ceremony.

 

Connecticut Quality Leadership Award

  • Sheila Carmine
  • Connecticut Quality Improvement Award Partnership
  • P.O. Box 1396
  • Stamford, CT 06904
  • Phone: (203) 322-9534
  • Fax: (203) 329-2465
  • www.ctqualityaward.org

 All for-profit and not-for profit manufacturing and service organizations located in Connecticut may apply. The Connecticut Leadership Quality Award uses the entire current Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Criteria for Performance Excellence.

Categories: All Connecticut-based companies.

Schedule: April--intent to apply forms due. May--applications due. Sept.--feedback returned. Dec.--awards banquet.

 

Connecticut Quality Breakthrough Award

  • Connecticut Quality Improvement Award Partnership
  • Address: Same as above

 This award utilizes a "bare-bones" version of the Baldrige Award criteria and process. It is for Connecticut organizations that are ready to launch their first rigorous quality improvement, measurement and business-impact initiatives.

Categories: All Connecticut-based organizations.

Schedule: April--intent to apply forms due. May--applications due. Dec.--awards banquet.

 

Connecticut Innovation Prize

  • Connecticut Quality Improvement Award Partnership
  • Address: Same as above

 This award recognizes accomplishments during the first stages of the quality journey for all Connecticut-based organizations.

Categories: All.

Schedule: April--applications due. Oct.--awards ceremony.

 

Delaware

Delaware Quality Award

  • Zena Tucker
  • Delaware Quality Consortium
  • 99 Kings Highway
  • Dover, DE 19901
  • Phone: (302) 739-4271
  • Fax: (302) 739-2028

 The Delaware Quality Award recognizes organizations that excel in meeting quality challenges.

Categories: Small (fewer than 100 employees) and large (100 or more employees), manufacturing or nonmanufacturing organizations, nonprofit of any size.

Schedule: Nov.--applications available. May--applications due. Oct.--winners announced.

 

Florida

Governor's Sterling Award

  • John A. Pieno Jr.
  • The Florida Sterling Council
  • P.O. Box 13907
  • Tallahassee, FL 32317
  • Phone: (850) 922-5316
  • Fax: (850) 488-7579
  • www.floridasterling.com

 The Sterling Award recognizes quality achievements in all sectors. Applicants compete against a world-class standard of excellence, not against each other.

Categories: Manufacturing, service, education, health care and public. Each category is divided into large (250 or more employees) and small/medium (fewer than 250 employees).

Schedule: Sept.--applications of intent due. Nov.--award applications due. May--awards ceremony.

 

Georgia

Georgia Oglethorpe Award Process

  • Victoria Currie Taylor
  • 148 International Blvd. N.E.
  • Suite 650
  • Atlanta, GA 30303
  • Phone: (404) 651-8405
  • Fax: (404) 651-9377

 The Georgia Oglethorpe Award Process drives continuous improvement, recognizes performance excellence and celebrates achievements. The process offers a high-value, low-cost assessment, and all applicants receive a detailed feedback report.

Categories: Business, industry, government, education, health care, nonprofit, sub-unit organizations. Large organizations (more than 1,000 employees); medium organizations (501 to 1,000 employees); small organizations (up to 500 employees).

Schedule: April 30--applications due.

 

Hawaii

Hawaii State Award of Excellence

  • Norm Baker
  • Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii
  • 1132 Bishop St., Suite 402
  • Honolulu, HI 96813
  • Phone: (808) 545-4394
  • Fax: (808) 545-4369

 This award is open to all organizations. More than 50 percent of the applicant's employees and 50 percent of its physical assets must be located in Hawaii.

Categories: Any public or private, profit or nonprofit organization.

Schedule: Dec.--applications available. March--eligibility applications due. June--award applications due. Oct.--awards ceremony.

 

Idaho

Idaho Quality Award

 Applicants may apply in any of the following four categories: quality management system, quality in the marketplace, quality in the workplace and quality in the community. Additional recognition is available at the quality interest and quality commitment levels.

Categories: Any organization that employs people in Idaho.

Schedule: Call.

 

Illinois

The Lincoln Awards for Excellence

  • Marie Sinioris
  • The Lincoln Foundation for Business Excellence
  • 820 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite 775
  • Chicago, IL 60607
  • Phone: (312) 258-5301
  • Fax: (312) 258-4066

 There are three levels offered in the Lincoln Awards for Excellence: Commitment to Excellence (for efforts to adopt and apply continuous improvement principles); Progress Toward Excellence (for demonstrating sound and notable continuous improvement processes); and Achievement of Excellence (for demonstrating exemplary approach, deployment and results in overall quality systems).

Categories: Education, government, health care, industry and service.

Schedule: Feb.--applications available. April--applications of intent due. June--award applications due. Dec.--awards ceremony.

 

Indiana

State of Indiana Quality Improvement Award

  • Task Force Chairperson
  • BMT
  • One N. Capitol Ave., Suite 925
  • Indianapolis, IN 46204
  • Phone: (317) 635-3058
  • Fax: (317) 231-7095
  • www.bmtadvantage.org

 This award recognizes Indiana operations that use quality to remain competitive and achieve third-party recognition of outstanding efforts in the quality area (ISO 9000, ISO 14000, QS-9000, etc.).

Categories: A broad spectrum including financial, education, service and manufacturing.

Schedule: Call.

 

Kansas

Kansas Award of Excellence

  • John Shoemaker
  • P.O. Box 55
  • Tecumseh, KS 66542
  • Phone: (800) 743-6767
  • Fax: (785) 379-5047
  • www.kae.org

 This award program has three levels: Commitment to Excellence (for organizations just beginning the quality journey); Performance in Quality (for organizations that demonstrate their commitment and practice of quality principles); and the Kansas Excellence Award, the highest award, presented for outstanding achievement.

Categories: Any organization, profit or nonprofit; public or private; government, military, education or health care.

Schedule: Jan.--applications available. June--applications due. Oct.--awards ceremony.

 

Kentucky

Commonwealth of Kentucky Quality Award

  • Joe Walters
  • Kentucky Quality Council
  • 167 W. Main St., Suite 500
  • Lexington, KY 40507
  • Phone: (606) 255-9458
  • Fax: (606) 252-7900
  • www.kqc.org

 Organizations can apply at one of four levels: Quality Interest, Quality Commitment, Quality Achievement and Governor's Gold Quality Award. All applicants receive recognition at one of the four levels.

Categories: Large and small manufacturing and service companies, educational institutions, health care providers, government agencies.

Schedule: March--applications of intent due. May--award applications due. Oct.--awards banquet.

 

Louisiana

Louisiana Quality Award

  • Corinne Dupuy
  • Louisiana Quality Foundation
  • Louisiana Productivity Center
  • P.O. Box 44172
  • Lafayette, LA 70504
  • Phone: (318) 482-6767
  • Fax: (318) 262-5472

 Applicants may apply for the award, or they may apply for review and feedback only. The award is given to recipients who meet a significant part of the criteria as determined by an objective panel of judges. All applicants that meet the criteria and are considered to be quality organizations will receive awards.

Categories: For-profit manufacturing and service, nonprofit, government and education.

Schedule: Aug.--applications due. Oct.--site visits. Dec.--awards presentation.

 

Maine

Margaret Chase Smith Maine State Quality Award

  • Andrea Jandebeur
  • Margaret Chase Smith Quality Association
  • 7 University Drive
  • Augusta, ME 04330
  • Phone: (207) 621-1988
  • Fax: (207) 282-6081
  • www.maine-quality.org

 This Baldrige-based award is open to any organization in Maine that employs five or more people. It is offered at three different levels: commitment, progress and excellence.

Categories: Any organization with five or more employees.

Schedule: Level I: quarterly applications. Levels II and III: March--applications of intent due; May--award applications due; Jan.--awards ceremony.

 

Maryland

U.S. Senate Productivity Awards

  • Joanne Davis
  • University of Maryland Center for Quality and Productivity
  • 4511 Knox Road, Suite 102
  • College Park, MD 20740
  • Phone: (301) 403-4413
  • Fax: (301) 403-4478
  • www.bsos.umd.edu/mcqp  

 The awards honor organizations that have made significant progress in quality and productivity improvement. All applicants receive detailed written feedback.

Categories: Manufacturing, service and public sector, education, and healthcare.

Schedule: June--eligibility determination. July--applications due. Oct.--awards presentation.

Maryland Quality Awards

  • University of Maryland Center for Quality and Productivity
  • Address: Same as above

 The award criteria and process is identical to U.S. Senate Productivity Awards. It is open to all organizations. Award levels include certificate of recognition, bronze, silver and gold to recognize applicants at various levels of achievement.

Categories: All organizations.

Schedule: Same as above.

 

Governor's Quality Awards

  • Tina Romanowski
  • Center for Continuous Quality Improvement
  • Dept. of Budget and Management
  • 301 W. Preston St., Room 508
  • Baltimore, MD 21201
  • Phone: (410) 767-4687
  • Fax: (410) 333-7456

 This award is presented to state agencies or units of state agencies that excel in productivity and quality achievement. Examiners evaluate and score applicants on seven categories: leadership, strategic planning, customer focus, information and analysis, human resource development, process management, and performance results.

Categories: State agencies--small (fewer than 500 employees), medium (500-1,499 employees) and large (1,500 or more employees).

Schedule: April--applications available. July--applications due. Sept.--site visits. Nov.--awards ceremony.

 

Massachusetts

Massachusetts Performance Excellence Award

  • Tyler Fairbank
  • MassExcellence
  • Center for Industrial Competitiveness
  • 600 Suffolk St., Fifth Floor
  • Lowell, MA 01854
  • Phone: (978) 934-2733
  • Fax: (978) 934-4035

www.massexcellence.com

 The Massachusetts Performance Excellence Award has three levels: a noncompetitive organizational self-assessment; a noncompetitive Baldrige-based application which includes evaluation by a certified panel, a site visit and feedback report; and a competitive state-level quality award.

Categories: Service, manufacturing, small business and nonprofit.

Schedule: Dec.--applications due. April--recognition ceremony.

 

Michigan

Michigan Quality Leadership Award

  • Bill Kalmar
  • Oakland University
  • 523 O'Dowd Hall
  • Rochester, MI 48309
  • Phone: (248) 370-4552
  • Fax: (248) 370-4628
  • www.michiganquality.org

 This Baldrige-based award has four categories: the Lighthouse Level, for completion of the MQC Quality Starter Guide; the Navigator Level, for a 20-page application using the Baldrige Criteria at the item level; the Honor Roll; and the Leadership Award, the highest level.

Categories: Manufacturing, service, health care, education, small business and the public sector.

Schedule: March--eligibility applications due. May--award applications due. Oct.--winners announced.

 

Minnesota

Minnesota Quality Award

  • Patricia Fryer Billings
  • Minnesota Council for Quality
  • 2850 Metro Drive, Suite 519
  • Bloomington, MN 55425
  • Phone: (612) 851-3181
  • Fax: (612) 851-3183

 The Minnesota Council for Quality offers a variety of Baldrige-based self-assessments ranging from a customized learning system survey to the traditional Minnesota Quality Award. All sectors of enterprise are encouraged to participate. Award participants receive recognition at one of four levels: commitment, advancement, achievement and role model excellence.

Categories: Manufacturing, service, education, government, health care and nonprofit.

Schedule: Spring--workshops. July--Evaluator training. July/Aug.--assessments due. Nov.--site visits. Jan.--recognition ceremony.

Menu Level Above 

This Menu LeveL 

Menu  Level Below 

[Contents] [News] [WebLinks] [Columnists]
[Kaizen] [ISO 9000:2K] [CMMs] [Registrars] [State]
[state2]

Copyright 2000 QCI International. All rights reserved.
Quality Digest can be reached by phone at (530) 893-4095. E-mail:
Click Here

Today's Specials