In 1998, QuEST Forum developed the TL 9000 quality
management system, which is tightly linked to ISO
9001. The ISO 9001 standard creates intrinsic value byestablishing a solid framework for quality management
based on leadership, management commitment,
fact-based decision-making, risk management andother basic quality principles. With the Information
Communication Technologies (ICT) specific “Adders”,
TL 9000 truly becomes an industry standard. The
performance data requirement of TL 9000 sets itapart from other QMS since it allows companies tosee statistics, such as best-in-class and worst-inclass, and enables organizations to identify opportunities
for improvement as well as compare themselves to theircompetitors.
TL 9000 provides value and benefits across all thesupply chain disciplines (buyers, suppliers, and service

About TIA QuEST ForumTIA QuEST Forum is a uniquecollaboration of service providers andsuppliers dedicated to ICT supply chain
quality, sustainability, security andperformance.
We unify the global ICT community
through the implementation of TL
9000, an ICT-specific quality standard,collaboration in our work groups andregional hubs, emphasis on learningand sharing industry best practices,and creation and delivery of reports
and benchmarks.

providers) by providing a consistent set of quality
expectations that parallel rapid technology changes
and customer expectations. It is equally applicable toboth large and small enterprises. The result is a uniqueand robust quality management system that drives
continual improvement and business excellence.

For more information on TIA QuEST Forum visit uson the web at https://tiaonline.org/what-we-do/tiaquest-forum/ or contact us athttps://tiaonline.org/about/contact-us/
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The Global ICT
Quality Management
SystemWhat is a Quality
Management System?

1. Benefits of the discipline of the measurements
requirements

Why TL 9000?
TIA QuEST Forum pursues the goal of global ICT quality

A quality management system is the set of processes,

2. Increased discipline in the quality systemprocedures, and tools that a company implements

3. Networking

9000 standard. This goal is accomplished in three ways:

Tii has found that the major benefits outlined above far▪

to ensure that customer satisfaction and qualityrequirements are met or exceeded. It provides aplatform for continual improvement of company
performance. ISO, the International Organization forStandardization, developed the ISO 9001 in the mid1980’s as a basic quality standard that companies

companies to track performance and improvefact once the additional system is in place there is littleresults

or no extra work involved. I can recommend TL 9000
certification to any company in the ICT industry.”

standard that are geared towards the specifics of theirindustry. The ICT specific standard, TL 9000, allows
ICT suppliers and service providers to have a global
standard that is specific to the industry. Certification
to a quality standard significantly enhances a firm’sorganizational DNA. It improves the ability to meetcustomer requirements and demonstrates thecompany’s desire to supply quality goods and services.

Benefits of TL 9000 Certification“Why register to TL 9000? This is a question that isprobably asked many times over both prior to making
the decision to gain TL 9000 certification and during
the implementation stages of the system. In myexperience, the question is asked far more rarely after
the certification process has been completed. The
reason for this is that the benefits are not realized
and understood until the system is implemented andoperational. The benefits of TL 9000 certification, in myexperience, fall into three major categories:

By eliminating the need for multiple quality
management standards which reduces the costof doing business and ultimately results in better
products and services to consumers

VP Quality
tii Network Technologies

recognized quality standard; however, it is lacking
industry sectors have developed additions to the ISO▪

– Christopher Jamesmanagement systems. Choosing the right system

in industry specific requirements. As a result, many

By providing a measurement system that allows

outweigh the “additional burden” of TL 9000; in

can use globally to help implement their quality
for your company is very important. ISO 9001 is aand industry-wide performance excellence through its TL▪

Provides a common language, audited by athird party, which allows suppliers and customers

What is TL 9000?

to focus on improvements rather than debatingresults.

TL 9000 is a quality management system designed
for the ICT industry. It builds on ISO 9001 and wasdeveloped by T I A QuEST Forum in response tothe call and need for ICT-specific requirements andmeasurements. The purpose of TL 9000 is to define

Who Benefits?
▪

across all products and services by using TL 9000

the ICT quality system requirements for design,certified suppliers, along with significant costdevelopment, production, and service. In addition,savings of on-site inspections. Moreover, theit specifies measurements for companies to help

Registration Management System (RMS) provides
regular performance data for analysis againstand improvement programs. The quality system

industry benchmarks and objective product andrequirements are described in the published TL

supplier purchasing decisions.

9000 Quality Management Systems Requirements
Handbook. While ISO 9001 provides the base, thereBuyers benefit from assured consistent quality▪

Suppliers profit by conformance to TL 9000

are over 80 supplementary requirements specific tostandards through the reduction of costs

ICT. What sets TL 9000 apart from any other QMS isassociated with quality audits and the creation ofthe measurement performance data requirement. The

customized performance reports for current andmeasurement data is intended to identify opportunities

potential customers, thus validating the promotedfor improvement within the supply chain and toquality of products, services, and customer care.

benchmark performance against suppliers of similar
products. The TL 9000 Quality Management System
Measurements Handbook specifies the product andmeasurements requirements.