ABSTRACT
This chapter examines how the needs for improving the quality of data center operations can be met through the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award (MBNQA) framework. Established in 1987 to foster quality in US industry, the award was named after the former secretary of the commerce department, Malcolm Baldridge. The chapter examines how techniques used by previous winners for achieving total quality can be applied to data center operations. Data center operations managers should also promote total quality outside the organization. The MBNQA committee examines how the top management of contestant companies promote quality beyond their own organizations. In planning for a total quality environment in the data center, it is important that all data center staff understand that quality is part of their job, and not the responsibility of a quality control department. The data center manager can internally assess processes to identify areas for improvement.
