2022 Baldrige Award Process News

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Baldrige Program Updates

2022 Baldrige Award Process News

Baldrige Program Announcement

Dear Friend of Baldrige,

I am writing today to provide an important update on the status of the 2022 Baldrige Award process.    

Over the past year, the leadership teams at Baldrige, NIST, and the Department of Commerce have been discussing the current status of the Baldrige Program and whether it is having the desired impact. After much deliberation and consideration of multiple factors, including participation data over the past several years, we have collectively decided to initiate a comprehensive, independent review of the Baldrige Program. This review will assess how the program can best advance U.S. competitiveness and address the challenges most relevant in today’s business environment, as well as examine how its impact and accessibility could be increased.   

Therefore, the program will not run an award process in 2022. We sincerely regret the inconvenience and hardship this might cause award applicants, examiners and judges, the consultant community, ASQ, Alliance programs, and other key program stakeholders. Applicants will be offered a full refund or the opportunity to be evaluated for feedback only at a reduced fee.  

As a program and a community, we have been well aware of the challenges we are facing. And as you know, in recent years we have worked collaboratively with our stakeholders to both streamline the evaluation process and increase the value for applicant organizations. Additionally, in December of last year, the Board of Overseers requested that we convene a broad group of Baldrige customers and other stakeholders to review our award process. The group was asked to make recommendations that would lower barriers to entry and encourage greater participation, particularly by organizations in the manufacturing and service sectors. This group has been hard at work, and we look forward to its recommendations for improvement, which are due in June.  

We plan to build upon this work and to also take into consideration the recommendations and input of others in the Baldrige community as part of an independent assessment of the Baldrige Program. The output of this process will inform how the program can best be positioned for maximal future impact to our nation.  

In the coming days, weeks, and months, we will work closely with all our stakeholders to get input and share information.    

Thank you for the tremendous support you’ve already provided—and your engagement as we move forward.   

With deepest gratitude,  

Bob Fangmeyer, Director

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