The Milliken Medal of Quality
The South Carolina Quality Forum has established the Milliken Medal of Quality Award to recognize South Carolina residents or former residents of vision who have demonstrated leadership, innovation, and outstanding achievement in the implementation of quality systems in their organizations and who has been an inspiration for others to follow in South Carolina. The first medal went to its namesake, Roger Milliken, President and Chief Executive Officer of Milliken & Company.

Milliken & Company is a privately held textile and chemical company with more than 50 plant locations in the United States and extending to 10 countries worldwide.  Milliken & Company was named a Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award winner in 1989, and Roger Milliken served as president of the Foundation of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award from 1991 until 1992.

To be eligible for the award, an individual must have management responsibilities across the entire organization.  In larger organizations it would be persons such as a CEO, president or vice-president, etc. and in smaller organizations it would be the owner, manager, etc.  The award is based on work done in South Carolina.  Persons with distinguished quality service that are South Carolina residents and some instances persons who have left South Carolina with distinguished quality service are eligible.

Individuals should demonstrate leadership and vision to move teams and the organizational culture toward world class standards that are customer focused and supported by quality systems that empower and equip teams and individuals.  Nominees must be widely recognized as a champion of the quality principles, serve as a benchmark for others, impact the change of culture for continuous improvement, ensure the continuity of the quality management principles in their organization through systems and communications.  He or she should promote the spirit of cooperation through common goals and synergy.  Nominees must be recognized as a quality achiever who conducts business with honesty and integrity and be a supporter of quality principles and initiatives in the community.

“Brand New”  Milliken Medal of Quality Timeline 
Nov. 1st - Begin acceptance of applications
May 1st-30th
- Review of applications
June 1st - 30th
- Steering Subcommittee judging of Applications
July 1st - 31st
- Interviews with references
August 1st - 31st
- Advisory Council judging of Applications
August 15th - Deadline for applications - EXTENDED DEADLINE
September 1st - Announcement of Winners
October
- Presentation of awards

Nominations for the Milliken Medal of Quality Award should be submitted to the South Carolina Quality Forum.  Forms for nomination will be made available from the South Carolina Quality Forum.  Call 1-888-231-0578.

This page was last updated July 28, 2008
Copyright © 2008 by the University of South Carolina Upstate.