Awards have been flying here at IES. Companies that make a commitment to improve – aside from gains in productivity, quality, safety and customer satisfaction -- often expand their trophy case as well.

Recipients of NCAfE and 1B4NC awards will be honored during lunch at the 2009 Management Systems Summit on September 17-18 in Raleigh. Based upon the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the North Carolina Awards for Excellence (NCAfE) embrace the same goal as quality management -- excellence. NCAfE recognizes participation at four defined levels: Involvement, Commitment, Advancement, and Leadership. NCAfE award winners to be formally recognized include:

• Duke University Hospital – Level 3 Advancement Award
• Fleet Readiness Center East – Level 3 Advancement Award
• WestCare Health System – Level 1 Involvement Award
• Fourth recipient to be announced

The Feet Readiness Center (FRC) East in Cherry Point became the first military facility to receive an award from NCAfE since its inception in 1989. The Level 3 Advancement Award, the second highest award in the program, is given to organizations that have demonstrated their ability to build sound processes through a systematic approach and produce results attributable to these well-deployed processes.

“This achievement validates our journey of continuous improvement signifying that we are on the right track and provides us meaningful encouragement to continue our efforts,” said Colonel David Smith, Commanding Officer of FRC East.

You see, whether you incorporate a quality management system or set your sights on excellence, you align your organization for the same result – success.

Our clients reap the benefits based on their commitment to improve. The deeper the commitment, the more the awards come flooding in. How big is your trophy case?

To attend the awards presentation or learn new best practices for continuous improvement initiatives at the 2009 Management Systems Summit , register by August 31, 2009 to receive early bird rates.