National Institute of Standards and Technology

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:

1. NIST Laboratories.
2. Baldrige National Quality Program.
3. Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership.
4. 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.

Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership

Ernest Frederick Hollings was a U.S. senator from 1966 until 2005. In 1988 he introduced the Technology Competitiveness Act. This legislation set up MEP (Manufacturing Extension Partnership). The partnership program was started in 1990. Upon retirement of senator Hollings, the program was renamed the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership in his honor. MEP is a U.S. network of 350 not-for-profit centers, whose purpose is to provide services to small and medium sized manufacturers. The centers, serving all 50 States and Puerto Rico, are linked together through NIST. Centers are funded by federal, state, local and private resources. The centers provide manufacturers access to technology making it possible for them to compete globally. MEP's operating budget in 2006 was $104.6 million. MEP also received $4.5 million in special funding to support the needs of manufacturers that were directly affected 2005 hurricane Katrina.