FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:             NIST 94-44
Dec. 5, 1994

Contact:  Jan Kosko                VICE PRESIDENT GORE AND
          (301) 975-2767           COMMERCE SECRETARY BROWN
                                   PRESENT 1994 BALDRIGE QUALITY
                                   AWARD TO THREE U.S. COMPANIES

     Vice President Al Gore and Commerce Secretary Ronald H.
Brown today presented three U.S. companies the 1994 Malcolm
Baldrige National Quality Award, the nation's highest award for
excellence in quality management. They are AT&T Consumer
Communications Services (Basking Ridge, N.J.), GTE Directories
Corp. (Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas) and Wainwright Industries, Inc.
(St. Peters, Mo.).  The award recipients were announced on
Oct. 18.

     "These three forward-looking companies, as well as previous
and future Baldrige Award winners, are going to be leading the
way into the 21st century, which some are wisely calling the
'Century of Quality,'" Gore said.  "They demonstrate that
aggressive quality management -- including a clear customer focus
and partnerships with employees and suppliers -- equips American
companies to compete and excel in the global marketplace."

     Brown said, "As the pace of global competition quickens, I
encourage all U.S. companies to follow the lead of these three
companies and invest in quality.  Those that do can be confident
they will be able to meet the challenges of the future head on."

     The award is named for the late Secretary of Commerce
Malcolm Baldrige and is managed by the Department of Commerce's
National Institute of Standards and Technology, an agency of the
Technology Administration.  The private sector is actively
involved in the award program.

     It was established by legislation in August 1987 to raise
awareness about quality management and recognize U.S. companies
that have a world-class system for managing their operations and
people and for satisfying their customers.

     The award is not given for specific products or services.
As part of the award process, an applicant must provide
information and data to show quality achievement and quality
improvement in seven broad areas:  leadership, information and
analysis, strategic planning, human resource development and
management, process management, business results, and customer
focus and satisfaction.

     U.S. companies applying for the award undergo a rigorous
evaluation by an independent board of examiners composed of
private- and public-sector quality experts.  The examination
includes on-site visits for those passing an initial screening.
Up to two awards may be given annually in each of three
categories:  large manufacturing, large service companies and
small business.  Since 1988, 22 companies have received the
award.

     The 1994 award recipients will present details of their
quality improvement strategies and results at the annual Quest
for Excellence conference to be held Feb. 6-8, 1995, at the
Washington Hilton and Towers, Washington, D.C.

     A non-regulatory agency, 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
quality control and assurance, and its reputation as an impartial
third party.

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