(NIST: Gaithersburg, MD) -- Sixty-nine organizations have tossed their hats—and their strategies for success—into the ring for the 2011 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the nation’s highest recognition for organizational performance excellence through innovation and improvement. Applicants include two manufacturers, three service companies, two small businesses, eight educational organizations, 40 health care organizations, and 14 nonprofits and governmental organizations.

The 2011 applicants will be evaluated rigorously by an independent board of 553 examiners in seven areas: leadership; strategic planning; operations focus; measurement, analysis, and knowledge management; workforce focus; process management; and results.

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