Comparing the Award Models and Criteria

Comparing the Award Models and Criteria:

The European Quality Award and the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award evolved in response to different objectives (the European Quality Award was, from the start, aiming at the improving organizations, the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award's first focus was the improvement of the products and services delivered) and set within different cultures. However, they have a similar purpose. This shared purpose is illustrated by the following similarities:

	All have the concept of Total Quality as the basis.
	All have the criteria relationship model that shows how the elements of the assessment criteria are linked together. The criteria elements of each cover similar ground.
	All have assessment system based on the "hows" (approach) and the "whats" (results).
	All emphasize that the end purpose is to create a more effective and efficient organization, better attended to the needs of its customers and the general community.
	All place particular emphasis on measuring the outcome of improved organizational effectiveness as well as the processes that contribute to this.

The models and assessment criteria of the three awards are meant to act as a framework for improvement. They should be interpreted for specific use within an organization. The criteria are relatively open and non-prescriptive; none attempt to place all organizations within the same tight framework. The fact that a wide range of organizations uses the criteria, demonstrates the adaptability of the processes.

In fact, there is a similar flexibility within the framework provided by the ISO 9000 series of standards. In the introduction to the ISO 9004-1, 1994 guidelines written: "The International Standards in the ISO 9000 family describe what elements quality systems should encompass, but now how a specific organization should implement these elements. Because the needs of organizations vary, it is not the purpose of these International Standards to enforce uniformity of quality systems. The design and implementation of a quality system will be influenced by the particular objectives, products, processes and individual practices of the organization."

ISO 9001 Requirements	ISO 9001 REQUIREMENTS	BALDRIGE CATEGORIES
Management Responsibility	1	1-4-5
Quality System	2	3-5
Contract Review	3	5-7
Design Control	4	5
Document Control	5	5
Purchasing	6	5
Purchaser Supplied Product	7	5-7
Product Identification and Traceability	8	5
Process Control	9	5
Inspection and Testing	10	5
Inspection, Measuring and Test Equipment	11	5
Inspection and Test Status	12	5
Control of Nonconforming Product	13	5
Corrective Action	14	5
Handling, Storage, Packaging and Delivery	15	5
Quality Records	16	5
Internal Quality Audits	17	5
Training	18	4
Servicing	19	5-7
Statistical Techniques	20	2-5
	ISO 9001 CERTIFIED	200-300 POINTS

Comparison between the requirements according to ISO 9001 and the different criteria in the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. A company certified according to ISO 9001 will get about 250 points in an assessment according to the criteria in the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.