The EFQM Excellence Model was introduced at the beginning of 1992 as the framework for assessing applications for The European Quality Award. It is the most widely used organisational framework in Europe and has become the basis for the majority of national and regional Quality Awards. A detailed description of the Excellence Model criteria and criterion parts is given below.

The need for a model

Whilst Quality Awards are a focus for some users, the true measure of the EFQM Excellence Model's effectiveness is its widespread use as a management system and the associated growth in the key management discipline of organisational self-assessment.

Regardless of sector, size, structure or maturity, to be successful, organisations need to establish an appropriate management system. The EFQM Excellence Model is a practical tool to help organisations do this by measuring where they are on the path to Excellence; helping them understand the gaps; and then stimulating solutions.

Self-assessment has wide applicability to organisations large and small, in the public as well as the private sectors. Increasingly organisations are using outputs from self-assessment as part of their business planning process and use the Model as a basis for operational and project review. It is not easy to determine exactly how many organisations are currently using the model, but we believe the number is growing rapidly and exceeds 20,000 across Europe.