The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award is the highest level of national recognition for performance excellence that a U.S. organization can receive. Now in its 18th edition, Baldrige Award Winning Quality is still the most widely used and recognized book on the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. It provides readers with a simple, yet comprehensive resource, for understanding the most current criteria for this prestigious business performance award.

The definitive resource for helping companies achieve world-class results, Baldrige Award Winning Quality – 18th Edition: How to Interpret the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence is the only book on the Baldrige criteria to detail, in simple and straightforward language, every category, examination item, and area to address. From understanding the scoring system to preparing for a site visit, it guides you through all stages in the process. Reflecting the new criteria (2013-2014) that address education and healthcare, this edition outlines a comprehensive plan that is suitable for any company in any industry.

Offering detailed explanations of each of the 17 "Examination Items" and the 36 "Areas to Address" that compose the seven major categories, the book reveals exactly what examiners look for in each area and suggests what you need to include. It also discusses:

• Criteria of leadership and the role of senior management in the award process
• Importance of a long- and short-term strategic plan
• Where and how to satisfy the requirements for demonstrating effective "process" and "results"
• Lists of state award programs based on the Baldrige criteria
• Core values and themes that underlie the award
• How to weigh the importance of the 36 "Areas to Address"
• The significance of the Baldrige scoring scale, and its role in achieving performance excellence

The book devotes a chapter to supplying a clear and concise explanation on how to prepare for a site visit from the board of examiners. It details each facet of the site visit, including its purpose, what a Baldrige examiner looks for, and the questions typically asked during the visit. Complete with rules for preparing graphics and charts, the book includes helpful tips to help you avoid common mistakes when completing the application.