TL 9000 > FAQ

The purpose of TL 9000 is to define the telecommunications quality management system requirements for the design, development, production, delivery, installation, and maintenance of telecom products and services. Included in TL 9000 are performance-based measurements for reliability, on-time delivery, handling of problem reports, and quality performance of products and services. These measurements can be used to benchmark performance with others in the industry.

The unique feature of TL 9000 is the requirement for TL 9000 measurements, Each TL 9000-registered company is required to report data into the TL 9000 database on the measurements that apply to its operations. The company can then obtain industry performance benchmarks on the applicable measurements against which to compare its own performance and to use in setting performance goals.

Telecommunications service providers, their subscribers, and their suppliers will all benefit as a result of implementing TL 9000. They will see

• Continual improvement of service to subscribers.
• Enhanced customer/supplier relationships.
• Standardization of quality system requirements worldwide.
• Uniform performance-based measurements.
• Efficient management of external audits and customer site visits.
• Creation of a platform for improvement initiatives.
   

The Quality Excellence for Suppliers of Telecommunications (QuEST) Forum is a unique partnership of telecommunications suppliers, service providers, and stakeholder organizations (e.g., trainers, registrars, consultant, and industry forum representatives).

The QuEST Forum's mission is to foster continued improvements to the quality and reliability of telecommunications service for the end user. It is committed to developing and maintaining a common set of quality system requirements for the telecommunications industry, worldwide, including reportable performance and cost-based measurements for the industry, promoting the sharing and use of industry best practices and providing a forum for networking and learning.

The QuEST Forum is responsible for developing the TL 9000 Requirements and Measurements, for assuring compatibility with other sets of requirements and standards, for disseminating industry best practices, and for monitoring the Certification Assessment processes, registrars, and auditors. Currently, it represents the telecommunications industry on the ISO 9001 Technical Committee (TC 176) and represents the quality and the TL 9000 standard on other industry forums. For more information, visit questforum.org or tl9000.org.

Telecommunications and stakeholder organizations interested in joining may complete the online membership application on questform.org. For additional information on joining, please contact the QuEST Forum at information@questforum.org

Conformance to TL 9000 is determined by a third-party registration audit from an accredited TL 9000 Certification Body.

The QuEST Forum establishes guidelines for accreditation bodies to grant accreditation to certification bodies. It also defines requirements that certification bodies and their auditors must satisfy to carry certification to TL 9000, The accreditation of registrars is the responsibility of accreditation bodies recognized by the QuEST Forum

Certification bodies are responsible for verifying that those with whom they contract to provide TL 9000 registration have, in fact, implemented a quality management system that conforms with TL 9000. In carrying out this responsibility, certification bodies must adhere to their own procedures, the requirements of their accreditation bodies, and the QuEST Forum's Code of Practice.

No, companies do not need to be members, but there are a lot of advantages to membership in the QuEST Forum. As a member, you have voting rights, you can participate in the development of the TL 9000 Requirements and Measurements, and you will have viewing privileges of the TL 9000 Measurements industry trend reports.

Yes, the scope of a registration may apply to hardware, software, services, or any combination thereof. The TL 9000 registration may include an entire company, an organizational unit, a facility(s), or a limited, defined product line as mutually agreed upon by the organization and its certification body.

The scope of TL 9000 registration will be clearly defined within the registration certificate. TL 9000 supports three distinct certifications:

• TL 9000-H, Hardware
• TL 9000-S, Software
• TL 9000-V, Services

A company may request registration to any of the above specialty areas or any combination thereof. In addition, the registration scope identifies the product category(s) and locations (s) registered.