OBSESSED WITH QUALITY: OMI WINS THE MALCOM BALDRIGE NATIONAL QUALITY AWARD

On November 21, 2000, Operations Management International, Inc. (OMI) learned that it made history by being the first company in the water/wastewater industry to receive the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the nation's premier award for quality achievement.Since the United States Congress created this program in 1987, OMI is one of only nine service companies to win the Baldrige award, joining the ranks of companies such as the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Merrill Lynch Credit Corporation, Xerox Business Services, AT&T Consumer Communications Services, and Federal Express. (Baldrige Awards are presented in five categories, manufacturing, service, small business, and health and education).OMI uses the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award criteria as a cornerstone for its quality effort. OMI conducted formal Baldrige self-assessments in 1992, 1994, 1996 and 1997. OMI formally applied for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in 1997, 1998 and 2000. By applying, OMI receives comprehensive feedback from quality experts in areas where they do well and those that need improvement.