National Institute of Standards and Technology: Difference between revisions
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== Baldrige National Quality Program== | |||
The purpose of this program is to improve the performance of U.S. manufacturers, service companies, educational institutions, and health care providers. An important tool for achieving improvements is the annual Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, which is given for performance excellence and quality achievement. This award, the highest honor for organizational performance excellence in the U.S., was created on August 20, 1987 and is named for [[Malcolm Baldrige]], who served as 26th Secretary of Commerce from 1981 until 1987. | |||
Originally, three types of organizations were eligible: manufacturers, service companies and small businesses. This was expanded in 1999 to include education and health care organizations, and again in 2007 to include nonprofit organizations (including charities, trade and professional associations, and government agencies). From 1988 until 2007, 72 organizations have received Baldrige Awards. | |||
Revision as of 07:01, 29 November 2007
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is a United States federal agency within the Department of Commerce. The institute was founded in 1901 with the aim to advance measurement science, standards, and technology.
NIST has four programs:
- NIST Laboratories.
- Baldrige National Quality Program.
- Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership.
- Technology Innovation Program (a newly created program that has been authorized by Congress but has not yet received appropriations).
NIST has an operating budget of about $843 million and operates in two locations: Gaithersburg, Md., and Boulder, Colo. NIST employs about 2,900 scientists, engineers, technicians, and support and administrative personnel. About 1,800 NIST associates complement the staff.
NIST laboratories
The NIST laboratories are located Gaithersburg, Md., and Boulder, Colo. The main laboratories are:
- Building and Fire Research Laboratory
- Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology
- Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory
- Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory
- Information Technology Laboratory
- Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory
- Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory
- NIST Center for Neutron Research
- Physics Laboratory
- Technology Services
Baldrige National Quality Program
The purpose of this program is to improve the performance of U.S. manufacturers, service companies, educational institutions, and health care providers. An important tool for achieving improvements is the annual Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, which is given for performance excellence and quality achievement. This award, the highest honor for organizational performance excellence in the U.S., was created on August 20, 1987 and is named for Malcolm Baldrige, who served as 26th Secretary of Commerce from 1981 until 1987.
Originally, three types of organizations were eligible: manufacturers, service companies and small businesses. This was expanded in 1999 to include education and health care organizations, and again in 2007 to include nonprofit organizations (including charities, trade and professional associations, and government agencies). From 1988 until 2007, 72 organizations have received Baldrige Awards.