FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:             NIST 94-39
Oct. 20, 1994

Contact:  Jan Kosko                BALDRIGE QUALITY CRITERIA
          (301) 975-2767           FOR 1995 STREAMLINED; MORE IN
                                   LINE WITH TODAY'S BUSINESS
                                   THINKING

     The criteria for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award
have been streamlined and changed for 1995 to focus more sharply
on quality as an integral part of today's performance management
practices, says the Commerce Department's National Institute of
Standards and Technology.

       "I think that both the quality and business communities
agree that quality cannot be seen as separate from overall
performance or the 'bottom line.'  It must be woven throughout
all of a company's business practices," says Curt Reimann, head
of the Baldrige Award program at NIST.  "More than ever before,
the 1995 award criteria reflect this thinking.  Evolving over the
years, the criteria are now widely accepted as the standard for
excellence in business performance," says Reimann.

     The criteria are designed to help companies deliver ever-
improving value to customers and improve overall company
performance and capabilities, says Reimann.  Since the award was
established in 1987, almost 1 million copies have been
distributed and thousands of organizations use them as a quality
improvement "road map."

     The 1995 criteria focus on key areas of business
performance:  customer satisfaction and retention; market share
and new market development; product and service quality;
financial indicators, productivity, operational effectiveness and
responsiveness; human resource performance and development;
supplier performance and development; and public responsibility
and corporate citizenship.

     "Companies that successfully build all of these into their
business practices should see tangible results, including
improved productivity, market share and financial performance,
better employee relations and greater customer satisfaction,"
says Reimann.

     In addition to having a sharper focus on key business
strategies, the 1995 criteria also have been streamlined.  The
number of areas to address has been cut by 40 percent.

     Single copies of the 1995 award criteria are available free
of charge from NIST by calling (301) 975-2036 or faxing (301)
948-3716.  Packets of 10 may be ordered from the American Society
for Quality Control for $29.95 plus postage and handling.  Order
item number T998 by calling ASQC at (800) 248-1946 or faxing
(414) 272-1734.

     The Baldrige quality award was established by Congress in
1987 to promote quality awareness, to recognize quality
achievements of U.S. companies and to publicize successful
quality strategies.  The award is not given for specific products
or services.  Currently, two awards may be given annually in each
of three categories:  manufacturing, service and small business.

     A non-regulatory agency of the Commerce Department's
Technology Administration, NIST promotes U.S. economic growth by
working with industry to develop and apply technology,
measurements and standards.  NIST was selected by Congress to
design and manage the award program because of its role in
helping U.S. companies compete, its world-renowned expertise in
measurement and its reputation as an impartial third party.

                                  - 30 -