The Connecticut Quality Improvement Award Partnership Inc., America’s first state-level quality award was founded in 1987 utilizing the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award for Performance Excellence criteria in an effort to advance innovative programs that improve quality performance and marketplace competitiveness.

Before Mac Baldrige became Secretary of Commerce during the Reagan Administration, he was CEO of Scovill Brass Company in Waterbury, CT. Sadly, he was killed in a rodeo accident.

For the past 25 years, the Connecticut Quality Improvement Award (CQIA) has been the State’s annual quality awards, recognizing Connecticut manufacturing and service companies that excel in managing quality improvement for business success and growth. Beginning in 1995, health care, education, government and other not-for-profit organizations became eligible to apply along with manufacturing and service companies.

Annually, the CQIA Partnership sponsors Five Steps to the Baldrige Award. The popular Step One, CQIA Innovation Prize, begun in 1995 encourages all organizations with a presence in Connecticut to apply. By recognizing accomplishments during the first stages of their quality journey, it is meant to stimulate interest in organizations to implement quality while fostering recognition of innovative improvements. There is no limit to the number of applications from any organization and no limit to the number of CQIA Innovation Prizes presented each year.

Other Steps to the Baldrige are the Organizational Profile, Categories and Items, CQIA Breakthrough Quality Award, and the highest level Connecticut Leadership Quality Award all based on the Baldrige Award for Excellence criteria. Like the national Baldrige Award, the Connecticut Quality Improvement Award serves as a rigorous process to help organizations improve their competitive position. Winning organizations along with national and international cutting–edge professionals share their successes and innovative improvements at CQIA’s Annual Conference on Quality and Innovation.

The Connecticut Quality Improvement Award Partnership, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not for profit Connecticut organization receives no subsidized money from either state or federal government. All funding comes from application fees, conference registration and generous sponsors.