The Malcom Baldrige Award was enacted by Congress in 1987 to recognize companies and organizations that employ successful management and operation techniques. In addition, there are some formal tools that can be used by companies to help improve performance.

The program employs the use of seven criteria to judge companies that apply for the award: leadership, strategic planning, customer and market focus, information and analysis, human resource focus, process management, and business results.

NYF began a Baldrige self-analysis in 1997 to help the company develop value-added services for suppliers and customers. It began by building cross-functional, customer-focused teams and a customer relationship management system. The new communication strategy allowed NYF to more quickly respond to customers’ needs.

NYF also found ways to increase flexibility, have better quality products, and improve service. As a result, it was the recipient of the silver New Jersey Governor’s Award for Performance Excellence, the state’s equivalent of the Malcom Baldrige Award.