Specific criteria for applications for The Adjutant General's Quality Cup Award are outlined below:

a.   The award is presented to a team, not an individual, which makes a major contribution by means of a quality initiative. This includes Army, Air or Veterans Affairs elements. This includes teams comprised of state, federal, civilian, military or any combination of employee work teams.

b.   The contribution must be substantiated with measurements which portray the actual improvement in effectiveness or efficiency to the organization. Quality improvements in services provided, cost savings, cost avoidance, improvements to employee or service member work environments, increased utilization of funds, time, resources or other measured effectiveness or efficiencies may be used. Work teams are encouraged to stretch their imaginations in capturing continuous improvements and document their efforts using standard statistical control processes.

c.   The submission must portray how sound statistical analysis and problem solving tools or techniques were used in creating the identified improvements.

d.   The improved results from the team's efforts must have been documented for a period of at least six (6) months after the solution or new process was implemented.

e.   Applications which have limited statistical and supporting documentation will be considered for Bronze level awards. Substantial statistical documentation combined with longer-term (6 months or more) data accumulation may earn Silver level award consideration. The most comprehensive application within the Silver level award group will be selected for the Gold Award. Multiple Bronze and Silver Awards may be granted but only one Gold level award will be given.

Award submissions will be forwarded to the respective Assistant Adjutants General and compiled at the end of December each year. Award submissions will be reviewed by the TAG Executive Quality Council panel during the Second Quarter (Jan-Mar) each year. All teams submitted for this award will be notified in writing regarding their final outcome. The following procedures will be used for submitting applications for The Adjutant General's Quality Cup Award:

a.   Supervisors will nominate a team for this award by endorsing a completed Recommendation for TAG Quality Cup Award form, as attached, through the appropriate ARNG MACOM Commander, ANG Base Commander or Veteran's Home Commandant. The appropriate supervising official will recognize each team member with an appropriate certificate and congratulatory letter citing their efforts towards continuous improvement which will be placed into the personnel file of each team member. Team members will be advised their team award submission is being forwarded for consideration for The Adjutant General's Quality Cup Award.

b.   The respective Assistant Adjutant General will forward their nominations to the HQ Michigan National Guard Quality Advisor. Each submission must include remarks indicating the awards and recognition the team has been given as a result of their team efforts.

c.   HQ, Michigan National Guard will select a three (3) member panel from the TAG Executive Quality Council to review all award submissions and make recommendations for awards to the Adjutant General.

d.   TAG Quality Cup Award submissions are limited to two (2) pages and must follow the specific format provided in the attached recommendation form.

THOMAS G. CUTLER
Major General, MIANG
The Adjutant General of Michigan