Remarks by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Donald L. Evans
Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award

May 21, 2003
Alexandria, VA

[As prepared for delivery]

Thank you.

Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, Dr. Marburger of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, our Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award winners, members of the Malcolm Baldrige award team, distinguished guests.

I‘m delighted to welcome you to a celebration of American excellence. I’m especially happy to thank Midge Baldrige for, once again, attending our ceremony. Your continuing strong support for this program means a lot, Midge.

This program recognizes American organizations for unparalleled achievements in quality and performance improvement.

Congress named it the “Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Program because the late Secretary of Commerce was:

• A “handshake capitalist”, whose word was his bond and who knew “good enough was not good enough;”
• A visionary who saw quality management as the key to America’s long-term strength and prosperity; and.
• A giant who could convince vigorous competitors to work for the common goal.
• Integrity, excellence, principled leadership, sound judgment and business responsibility—Mac Baldrige stood for all these things. Our award celebrates his values, his “can-do” spirit and his abiding belief that America could rise to meet any challenge we faced.

The results of our quest for excellence are in this hall.

I congratulate the men and women of Motorola Commercial, Government and Industrial Solutions Sector; Branch-Smith Printing Division; and SSM Health Care. You, the winners of the 2002 Malcolm Baldrige Award, are America’s best.

I’m especially delighted to recognize our first health care winner and that Dr. Carolyn Clancy, director of the Agency for Healthcare Quality and Research, is here to represent Health and Human Services Secretary Thompson, a long-time supporter of the Baldrige process.

SSM Health Care combines the use of data and technology with its exceptional care and compassion for the indigent and the ill. SSM does things many people called impossible.

Sister Mary Jean, I don’t want to scare you off, but last year’s three education winners received speaking requests from as far away as India.

Your message on how health care organizations can improve the way they deliver and manage health services is timely and vitally important. So keep your bags packed.

And your colleagues from Motorola and Branch-Smith Printing Division will also be in demand. That’s an important part of this Baldrige program.

Aristotle said, “Excellence is not a singular act, but a habit.” Our 2002 Malcolm Baldrige Award winners made excellence a habit and a part of their corporate culture. And now they’re sharing their wisdom.

The Baldrige program, itself, has become part of America’s culture. It is recognized around the world as a powerful tool to help any organization improve its performance.

The Baldrige program is accomplishing exactly what late Secretary Baldrige, and President Reagan intended: helping American organizations by creating a standard of excellence and a forum for sharing success strategies. It’s also a cost-effective government and industry team effort. A study done a few years ago estimated the total economic benefits of the program to the U.S. economy at almost $25 billion, for a benefit-to-cost ratio of 207 to 1. Now that’s great return on investment!

My hat’s off to our staff at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, to their counterparts in the private sector—the judges, examiners, the foundation people—and everyone who has worked so hard to make Mac Baldrige’s vision a reality. America is stronger because of your efforts.

• America is also stronger because of the achievements of the men and women of:
  Motorola Commercial, Government and Industrial Solutions Sector;
• of Branch-Smith Printing Division; and
• SSM Health Care.

Quality and excellence strengthens our nation and is critical to a more prosperous future for all.

Thank you and God Bless you.

created on 5/21/03
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