103 STAT. 3112 PROCLAMATION 6031—SEPT. 29, 1989 Proclamation 6031 of September 29, 1989 -' National Quality Month, 1989 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Producing quality goods and services is crucial not only to the contin- ued economic growth of the United States, but also to our national se- curity and the well-being of each American family. Our Nation has long been recognized for its leadership in producing quality products. How- ever, in recent years, the position of the United States as quality leader has been challenged by foreign competition in domestic and overseas markets. Reasserting our leadership position will require a firm commitment to total quality management and the principle of continuous quality im- provement. The United States can, and must, excel in this area, setting new standards for world-class quality and competing vigorously in international markets. Improving quality takes time and resources and can only be achieved through a combination of factors. It takes a long-term commitment by management that involves working with suppliers to improve perform- ance; educating, training, and motivating workers; developing accurate and responsive information systems; and establishing targets for qual- ity improvement. Quality improvement principles apply to small companies as well as large corporations, to service industries as well as manufacturing, and to the public sector as well as private enterprise. Improving the quality of goods and services goes hand in hand with improving productivity and lowering costs. It is also essential to enhancing worker fulfillment and customer satisfaction. Private sector organizations and government institutions across the country are joining forces to promote a national commitment to excel- lence. At the national, regional, and local level, business executives and public officials are working together to develop the skills and tech- niques needed for producing quality goods and services. As part of this important effort, the Federal Government is promoting quality through such programs as the Malcolm Baldrige National Qual- ity Award of the Department of Commerce, the Federal Quality Insti- tute, the President's Council on Management Improvement, the Produc- tivity Improvement Plan of the Department of Defense, and the NASA Excellence Award for Quality and Productivity. The American Society for Quality Control—together with other nation- al professional organizations, businesses, industries, government agen- cies, and academic institutions—is sponsoring activities in observance of "National Quality Month." These activities, focused on the theme of "Quality First," are designed to promote awareness of the importance of quality to production and services throughout the United States. The Congress, by House Joint Resolution 204, has designated October as "National Quality Month" and has authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of this month.
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