Eighty-three organizations are in the running for the 2010 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the nation’s highest recognition for organizational performance excellence and innovation. Applicants include three manufacturers, two service companies, seven small businesses, 10 educational organizations, 54 health care organizations and seven nonprofits/governmental organizations. The number of applicants is up 20% over 2009 and marks the fifth consecutive year that there have been 70 or more organizations seeking the award. Additionally, the 54 health care applicants are the largest number in that category since it began in 1999.

The 2010 applicants will be evaluated rigorously by the independent Board of Examiners in seven areas: leadership; strategic planning; customer focus; measurement, analysis and knowledge management; workforce focus; process management; and results. Examiners provide each applicant with 300 to 1,000 hours of review and a detailed report on the organization’s strengths and opportunities for improvement.

The 2010 Baldrige Award recipients are expected to be announced in late November.