(NIST: Gaithersburg, Maryland) -- Each year the Baldrige National Quality Program recruits experts from businesses, education organizations, health care providers, nonprofits and other groups to serve as members of the board of examiners for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Examiners evaluate applications for the award and prepare feedback reports to applicants that cite strengths and opportunities for improvement.

This year for the first time, all examiner applications must be submitted online.

The application form is available at http://baldrige.nist.gov/Examiner_Application.htm. Deadline for submissions is on or before noon Eastern Standard Time on January 8, 2008.

The board consists of more than 500 members, including 12 judges and about 60 senior examiners representing many industries, companies and organizations, including those from not-for-profit and public sectors. Service on the board provides an opportunity to enhance a board member’s knowledge, to develop a new network of expert colleagues and to help improve U.S. competitiveness.

Due to the large number of applications, highly qualified applicants may not be selected in a given year in order to balance the board with examiners from different sectors or with different work experiences. Thus, past applicants who have not been selected are encouraged to apply again.