The National Quality Institute (NQI) an independent, not-for-profit organization is the leading authority in Canada on workplace excellence based on quality systems and healthy workplace criteria. A Board of Governors comprised of leaders from the private sector, public sector, health care and not-for profit sector governs NQI. NQI acts as a national partner with many organizations to advance the Excellence movement in Canada.
About NQI Video:
NQI provides organizational leaders with strategic business frameworks, services and tools that support ongoing performance improvement in quality and healthy workplace environments, using NQI's innovative Roadmap to Excellence. The Roadmap guides Canadian organizations through leadership participation, base-line reviews, related training and organizational certification. The four levels of NQI's Progressive Excellence Program (NQI PEP®) certification leads to eligibility for the Canada Awards for Excellence. NQI is the national steward organization for the annual Canada Awards for Excellence. This program, was originally developed in partnership with the Government of Canada to provide recognition for organizations adjudicated to have achieved a level of performance based on recognized international criteria in the Excellence Frameworks.
NQI services also include strategic counsel on change management, facilitation of organizational assessment, professional certification of individuals, as well as value-based membership activities to organizations of all sizes in both the private and public sectors. NQI also organizes selected events to showcase what is possible in Canadian organizations in terms of developing Excellence systems to improve competitiveness in the private sector and service excellence in the public sector.
Our Vision and Mission:
Vision
To be a global leader in promoting and building organizational excellence
Mission Statements
Canada Awards for Excellence Mission Statement
To inspire organizations by promoting excellence and showcasing their success as role models in an interdependent global economy that benefits all Canadians
National Quality Institute (NQI) Mission Statement
Helping organizations to continuously improve performance and results by providing innovative national criteria, progressive implementation programs, services and certification
NQI provides criteria and an implementation route for organizations that have made a strategic commitment to Excellence. Frameworks and criteria for Excellence now include:
• Business Excellence Framework • Public Sector Excellence Framework • Excellence in Education K-12 system • Excellence in Tourism • Healthy Workplace Criteria • Small Business Quality criteria • Small Organizations Healthy Workplace criteria • Progressive Aboriginal Relations- in partnership with CCAB
Each Framework & criteria has been developed in consultation with subject matter experts and interest groups. The Frameworks provide a national approach in Canada for Excellence. The Canada Awards for Excellence is equivalent to other national award programs such as the Baldrige program in the United States, the European Framework for Quality Model program and the Australian Business Excellence program.
1) To respond to current ISO 9000 registered organization ‘graduates’ who are ready for recognition/certification to a progressive continual improvement model, e.g. PEP on their journey in pursuit of excellence.
2) To respond to those organizations that do not believe they need ISO, but nonetheless are looking for recognition of their quality management system and healthy workplace program.
NQI PEP® provides the framework and strategic context for ISO and other systems such as hospital accreditation, Six Sigma, LEAN manufacturing, Customer Relationship Management so that an organization can incorporate other improvement initiatives into a holistic integrated management system. In other words, these other systems fit within the PEP Framework, and help improve operations as well as overall business results.
NQI PEP® was also designed to help organizations “keep the focus” as the time frame between each level is set at 12-18 months which means clear goals can be set over a reasonable time period. Organizations that have received the Canada Awards for Excellence typically note that their journey took 3-5 years. PEP is in part a motivational process in that organizations can celebrate achievement along the journey. Achievement of NQI-PEP Level 3 leads to the Canada Awards for Excellence.
The CAE is a national annual awards program designed to give recognition to Canadian organizations that, through a commitment to innovation, productivity, healthy workplace and ethics, demonstrate sustainable measures of continuous improvement. These organizations have effectively transformed themselves to become more efficient, expand market share, provide employment opportunities and enhance international competitiveness.
The CAE recognizes performance excellence in two categories - 'Quality' and 'Healthy Workplace'. This year marks the 20th annual presentation of the Canada Awards for Excellence. Two new categories have been added to the annual program to be awarded this year, the small business quality award/ small organization healthy workplace award and the Excellence in Education award
An independent site visit team and a selection jury involving the NQI Board of Governors adjudicate recipients of the CAE.
Organizations considered for a Quality award must show outstanding continuous achievement in seven key areas: Leadership, Planning for Improvement, Customer Focus, People Focus, Process Optimization, Supplier Focus and Organizational Performance. Public Sector entries are judged against the Canadian Quality Criteria for Public Sector Excellence and private sector entries are judged against the Canadian Framework for Business Excellence - Strategic Quality Approach.
Organizations considered for a Healthy Workplace award are judged against the Canadian Healthy Workplace Criteria, developed in partnership with Health Canada and professionals from the health and wellness sector. To earn recognition, employers must demonstrate that employee health and well-being are an integral and strategic part of the way they do business. These organizations must address five key areas: Leadership, Planning, People Focus, Process Management and Outcomes.
The small business awards are based on criteria referenced to the quality criteria and the healthy workplace criteria. The Excellence in Education award is referenced to the quality criteria for the public sector and attuned to the specific issues of the K-12 education system in Canada.
Recipient organizations of a CAE designation take part in a number of activities to inspire more organizations to Excellence, to promulgate best practices and to demonstrate the results that come from a strategic focus in Excellence through people.
NQI conducts a number of educational programs, both publicly offered and customized for in-house delivery, to support organizational commitment to Excellence. NQI also provides facilitated services to assist organizations in conducting an assessment /review of the organization as referenced to the Excellence frameworks and criteria. Services also include mentoring, coaching and strategic counsel on change management. The NQI membership value proposition is integrated to include specialized organizational needs for advisory services.
• NQI is the national accrediting body for the QMS (quality management systems) and EMS (environmental management systems) auditor programs. Both programs are Programs (QMS and EMS) accredited by the Standards Council of Canada and meet requirements of ISO 17024, CAN P-912, CAN P-1412, and ISO 19011. An independent advisory board manages the auditor program.
• NQI offers personal certification programs for individuals seeking recognition as a Certified Excellence Professional, Certified Excellence Assessor and a Certified Excellence Trainer. Individuals seeking such designation have to demonstrate a combination of educational requirements and workplace experience.
Value Proposition for Excellence: In a rapidly changing world, organizations need a clear way to see the endgame and to achieve results consistent with corporate values. The Business Excellence Framework and services offered by NQI have a proven track record. As the internal structures of organizations change to meet global needs, NQI is finding new ways to provide value to members and developing enabling services to sustain the focus on Excellence through employee engagement and alignment of purpose. The membership services program provides real value for organizations that have a strategic focus on advancing sustainable performance. The membership value provides a choice of services, such a Peer Assessment, NQI Networking, participation in site visits and verification, NQI educational programs, profile in publications, membership on the Board of Governors and participation in NQI events.
7) Providing Advisory Services
NQI has a number of partners and associates across Canada that provide ongoing support to organizations in all areas of quality, healthy workplace including strategic planning, process management, assessments and continuous improvement. Our tools such as the customer and employee surveys help to supplement this coaching and consulting service.
Questions? Please e-mail us at [email protected] or call 1-800-263-9648 x236. (local to Toronto please call 416-251-7600 x236)
