Cargill Corn Milling received the 2008 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the highest Presidential honor awarded to organizations for innovation and performance excellence, at a ceremony today with Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, at the JW Marriott in Washington D.C.
This marks the second time in four years, and the third time overall, that a Cargill business has earned the Baldrige. Cargill’s egg processing business – then called Sunny Fresh and now known as Cargill Kitchen Solutions – received Baldrige awards in 1999 and 2005.
“More than 2,400 employees across nine plants, 11 distribution terminals and various other locations played a role in receiving this award,” said Cargill Corn Milling President Alan Willits. “No doubt the Baldrige examiners found hard working, creative and innovative people everywhere they looked across our business. We are proud, honored and extremely excited to be given this prestigious distinction.”
Congress established the Baldrige award program in 1987 to recognize U.S. companies for achievements in quality and business performance. It is named after the late U.S. commerce secretary. The commerce secretary and the National Institute of Standards and Technology provide the leadership and management for the program.
Baldrige applicants are evaluated by an independent board of examiners in seven areas: leadership; strategic planning; customer and market focus; measurement, analysis and knowledge management; workforce focus; process management; and business results. The evaluation process for Cargill Corn Milling included site visits by examiners to nine locations.
Cargill Corn Milling was among just 13 of 85 award applicants in 2008 to receive site visits by the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award examiners.
