National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is a non-regulatory federal agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce. NIST's mission is to promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life. NIST carries out its mission via three cooperative programs: the NIST Laboratories conduct research that advances the nation's technology infrastructure needed by U.S. industry to improve their products and services; the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program promotes performance excellence among U.S. manufacturers, service companies, educational institutions, health care providers, and nonprofit organizations, conducts outreach programs, and manages the annual Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, which recognizes performance excellence and quality achievement; and the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership, a nationwide network of local centers, offers technical and business assistance to smaller manufacturers.