NOT YOUR FATHER'S BALDRIGE ANYMORE

Abstract

The Baldrige National Quality Program has exemplified the concept of continuous improvement with Improvement Days annually and significant changes to the Criteria and the Award process biennially. However, many quality leaders still retain an impression of the Criteria going back to its early years when it was a quality control focused program instead of the leading edge systems model to which it has evolved.

In addition, many quality leaders believe that the Baldrige Criteria somehow compete with or do not promote the successful implementation of current initiatives such as Six Sigma or Lean Manufacturing. Nothing could be further from the truth.

This presentation will include an overview of changes to the Criteria, including its expansion into the health care and education sectors. It will also include specific examples of organizations who have successfully used the Criteria to integrate and leverage other improvement initiatives.

Bio

Kay Kendall is currently the Director, Sun Sigma Deployment Champion, for Sun Microsystems. She has spent more than15 years leading large-scale change initiatives and quality systems implementation in the aerospace and semiconductor industries. She is a Judge for the Baldrige National Quality Program and on the advisory council for the Mass Excellence program. Kay is a Senior Member of ASQ, Certified Quality Manager, and certified Six Sigma Champion and Green Belt.

Recent speaking experience includes: