The Baldrige Performance Excellence Program and the associated award were established by the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Improvement Act of 1987 (Public Law 100–107). The program and award were named for Malcolm (Mac) Baldrige, who served as United States Secretary of Commerce during the Reagan administration, from 1981 until Baldrige’s 1987 death in a rodeo accident. President George H. W. Bush continued the Program during his presidency.
The Quality Texas Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation that evolved from a concept introduced by Governor Ann Richards in the early 1990s supporting the National Malcolm Baldrige Program.
Cooperative efforts between the Governor’s office, the Texas Department of Commerce, and Texas businesses made it possible for the new Quality Texas Foundation to organize and deliver initial quality awareness seminars across the state. In the first two years, seminars were presented to 1,800 individuals representing more than 700 organizations.
EDS Corporation assigned an executive to lead the development of the state quality award. A committee was formed with representatives from organizations across Texas. The committee created the Texas Quality Award (later the Texas Award for Performance Excellence), open to government, education, healthcare, nonprofit, and business organizations. The American Productivity & Quality Center was chosen as the original award administrator and applications were first accepted in 1993.
Since 1993, the Quality Texas Foundation has administered the Governor’s Texas Award for Performance Excellence (TAPE) as an independent non-profit corporation. Winning of the Governor’s TAPE symbolizes that the organization is one of the best in the state of Texas-based upon a very rigorous and robust process and has resulted (2000) in 21 National Recipients and 59 State Recipients.
Beginning in 1997, QTF began recognizing for-profit, not-for-profit, educational institutions, health care facilities/hospitals, manufacturing, and small businesses with our Award/Recognitions annually.
In late 2014, QTF began to develop other training opportunities focusing on improving individuals as well as organizations. In the personal development area, we routinely train around 300-350 Examiners (volunteers) who work with organizations to evaluate their performance and give detailed opportunities for improvement. QTF also rolled out Leadership Development Seminar I (Category 1 Baldrige) to enhances individual careers as well as helping the organization. Surveys indicate this training has been instrumental in the furtherance of individual careers at organizations with many attendees receiving promotions and pay raises.
In 2015, QTF area of influence was expanded to cover the great Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
In 2016, QTF began including Writing Seminars and Organizational Strategic Planning (Category 2) to the menu of classes/training available. Leadership Development I was updated and Leadership Development II was offered. Examiner Training was expanded to become retitled as the Internal Coach/Examiner Training.
In 2018, QTF began to recognize Communities of Excellence as an Award Level.
In 2019, QTF will include Workforce Development Training for our organizations which magnifies Category 5 of the Baldrige Criteria. In 2020, QTF began Customer Focused Training (Category 3).
In 2020, Midwest Education Institute (MO/KS Quality Programs) merged with QTF. Additionally, QTF began the Continuous Improvement Certification (CIC) Program in collaboration with the University of Texas at El Paso.
In 2021, Louisiana Quality Foundation established a management agreement with QTF as did South Carolina in 2022.
In 2022, QTF began the Organizational Leadership/Examiner course. Additionally, the Quality Texas Foundation added Regional Program to its title (QTFRP).
Since October 2014, QTF has trained individuals from 29 states, 4 countries, and one commonwealth. Satisfaction levels hover around 97% to 100% for the various trainings offered.
Organizational Profile
For a more in-depth look at our foundation please read our Organizational Profile located here.