Malcolm Baldrige was an American businessman and politician who served as the U.S. Secretary of Commerce from 1981 until his death in 1987. He was known for his efforts to improve the competitiveness of U.S. businesses and for promoting quality management practices. His work led to the establishment of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, which recognizes organizations for their performance excellence. The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award was created in 1987 to encourage U.S. companies to improve their quality management and performance. The award is given annually to organizations in various sectors, including manufacturing, service, and education, and it serves as a framework for assessing and enhancing organizational performance.