Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 103 Part 1.djvu/696

 103 STAT. 668 PUBLIC LAW 101-102—SEPT. 29, 1989 Public Law 101-102 101st Congress Joint Resolution Sept. 29, 1989 [H.J. Res. 204] To designate October 1989, as "National Quality Month". Whereas the design and manufacture of quality commercial prod- ucts and goods and the provision of services of the highest quality are fundamental to the success of the United States in the world marketplace, to the improvement of the standard of living of the people of the United States, and to the security of the United States; Whereas the United States has been a world leader in producing quality goods and services and the leadership has resulted in a world-wide market for the products of the United States; Whereas in recent years, the leadership of the United States in producing quality goods has been challenged by foreign competi- tion and the rate of growth of the productivity of the United States is currently less than the rate of growth of the productivity of some of the competitors of the United States; Whereas a commitment to continuous quality improvement, using recognized quality principles and practices, has been dem- onstrated to be the most effective way to regain and solidify economic leadership in the world marketplace; Whereas over the past 5 years, virtually every segment of business and industry in the United States and many units of government have adopted quality management principles and experienced resulting dramatic improvements in productivity; Whereas the Federal Government promotes quality through such programs as the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award of the Department of Commerce, the Federal Quality Institute, the President's Council on Management Improvement, the Productiv- ity Improvement Plan of the Department of Defense, and the Excellence Award for Quality and Productivity of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Whereas regional quality movements have promoted quality management philosophy and quality management principles and have begun to develop a sense of quality consciousness within particular regions of the Nation; Whereas cognizance of quality, like cognizance of safety, is an attitude that once instilled in individuals becomes ingrained; Whereas implementation of quality principles in manufacturing and service operations increases productivity through emphasis on waste reduction, defect prevention, and improved reliability of products and services; Whereas the American Society for Quality Control has been a leader in the development, promotion, and application of quality and quality-related technology since 1946;

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