BENCHMARKING AND MALCOLM BALDRIGE NATIONAL QUALITY AWARD   

Describe the company’s processes, current sources and scope, and uses of competitive comparisons and benchmarking information and data to support improvement of quality and overall company operational performance. 

1994 AWARD CRITERIA,  MALCOLM BALDRIGE NATIONAL QUALITY AWARD

Motorola one of the original Malcolm Baldrige Award winners has found that even after achieving best-in-class, there is much to be gained through continued benchmarking. Every new program, every new product and every new improvement effort at Motorola is preceded by a search for the best-in-class. In this way, Motorola ensures that every new process introduced will be world class. 

Companies today that are following the Baldrige criteria, can’t miss the importance of benchmarking. 

Much of the early benchmarking being practiced in the United States was done by the first Baldrige winners and companies they collaborated with on benchmarking studies. 

Benchmarking or benchmark comparisons are included in six of the seven 1994 Baldrige categories. Only the leadership category makes no mention of benchmarking or benchmarks.

The examiners look for methodical and systematic processes related to benchmarking.