Towards a new telecommunications industry quality standard

The quality technologies developed by Bell Communications Research (Bellcore) and adopted by its owner/clients are described. At the core of the philosophy is the concept of supplier accountability for product and service quality. A brief history of quality in the former Bell System is presented. A supplier career path for today's telecommunications suppliers is shown, and the various characteristics that accompany each phase of the buyer/supplier relationship are described. Programs that enable buyers and suppliers to achieve a long-term cooperative relationship are presented chronologically according to the phases of the product life cycle. The customer/supplier quality process, which is the newest and most comprehensive of the quality technologies available in the telecommunications field, is summarized.<
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