Question

Compare and contrast ISO 9000 and the Baldrige Award Criteria. Which one is more rigorous and why? Which one is more applicable to a new enterprise and why?

Answer 1

Both ISO 9000 and Baldrige award ensure the quality standard of commodities and services of enterprises across the globe. Baldrige provides quality awards for most of the USA-based enterprises. On the contrary, enterprises of other nations get quality affiliation from the ISO 9000 standard. Quality management and consistency in the consumer support are the parameters for both the quality recognition organizations. However, there are several contrasts between these two quality standards. Differences are mentioned below:

• The ISO 9000 award is given for ensuring excellence in commodity quality, service quality, and consumer satisfaction across the globe. On the contrary, the Baldrige National Quality Award is provided for a USA-based performance excellence program.

• ISO 9000 is a globally recognized standard, while Baldrige is USA-based.

• ISO 9000 intends to audit and review the external certification body. However, the Baldrige Award is a self-assessed award for excellence.

ISO 9000 is more rigorous. Because ISO 9000 evaluates the global standard instead of national standard and it accurately reviews and audits the external certification body. Established organizations are the target audience for ISO 9000.

The Baldrige award is more applicable to new enterprises. The new enterprises can evaluate it's quality and efficiency standard compared with the USA based companies. The evaluation can increase the capacity to acknowledge its efficiency to compete with globally expanded organizations.