Two previously unrecognized industries—ban...

Two previously unrecognized industries—banking and water treatment—are represented among the winners of the 2000 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award program, which honors the nation's premier companies for performance excellence and quality achievement.

Los Alamos National Bank, Los Alamos, N.M., and Operations Manage-ment International, a Greenwood Village, Colo., water treatment facility, join Dana Corp.'s Spicer Driveshaft Division, Toledo, Ohio, and Karlee Co., a Garland, Texas, manufacturer of machine components, as the honored recipients.

Award winners demonstrate achievements and improvements in seven key areas: leadership, strategic planning, customer and market focus, information and analysis, human resource focus, process management and business results.

An independent board of about 400 examiners, primarily from the private sector, reviews all applications in a rigorous examination process that takes from 300 to 1,000 hours. Each applicant receives a report citing strengths as well as opportunities for improvement.

Former recipients include Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co., Boeing Airlift and Tanker Programs, 3M Dental Division and Xerox Business Services.