BIZPHYX: The TL 9000 Experts | TL 9000, ISO 9001 & ISO 14001 Quality Management Education

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  support 10:18 pm on July 6, 2014 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: QuEST Forum ( 38 ), TL 9000 ( 75 ), TL 9000 Certification ( 13 ), TL Alert 14-003A   

  TL 9000 Informational Alert: TL14-003A 

  Back in June, QuEST Forum issued an informational alert regarding the clarification of requirements to maintain TL 9000 Certification in a product category.  This was a small information alert, which was immediately posted to our Knowledge Base.  If this was not made clear in the recent Q2 edition of THE STANDARD, we apologize.  Our editorial team felt it did not warrant a podcast episode, but we wanted to make sure that our readers could access the alert here.

  The reason for TL 9000 Informational Alert: TL14-003A was clarification regarding product category status.  One of the foundational elements of the TL 9000 Quality Management System is the use of a common set of measures to drive continual improvement.  This is why there are requirements to submit data monthly to the TL 9000 Measurements Repository and to use the resulting industry statistics.

  If an organization no longer produces or supports any products in a hardware/software product category or no longer provides the services for a service product category, then that product category must be removed from the organization’s certification, since the requirement to submit data cannot be fulfilled.  If this is the only product category on the organization’s TL 9000 Certification, then the certification itself must be suspended or cancelled until the organization again has an active product.

  Please click on the PDF image below or here to obtain the complete alert:

  

  TL Alert 14-003A From QuEST Forum

   

  If you require more information, please contact info@bizphyx.com.

   

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  support 1:27 am on March 7, 2011 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: BIZPHYX ( 41 ), TL 9000 ( 75 ), TL 9000 Alert 11-001A, TL 9000 alerts ( 2 ), TL 9000 templates   

  TL 9000 Informational Alert: 11-001A Regarding Data Templates 

  The alert was issued to clarify TL 9000 requirements surrounding data templates and addresses a misconception concerning the use of outage data supplied by customers that do not use an available standardized template.  This alert which was issued on February 28, 2011, originated with the integrated global quality (IGQ) workgroup and relates to the TL 9000 Quality Management System Measurements Handbook R4.5.

  An excerpt from the alert states, “some organizations have incorrectly interpreted this requirement to mean that if one of their customers supplies data for which a template exists, but in a manner other than on the template, that such data can be ignored or is not valid. This requirement only applies to the organization’s responsibilities to its suppliers. It does not, in any way, apply to the manner in which the organization’s customers supply data“.

  The alert in its entirety is available at the TL 9000.org website.  It is only intended for those organizations certified to the TL 9000 standard.  BIZPHYX can also provide you with the PDF.  This subject will be further clarified in the next edition of the TL 9000 Measurements Handbook.

  If you require assistance regarding alert 11-001A and how it pertains to your company, please contact info@bizphyx.com.

  In two weeks, we will begin a new 5-part series on ISO 14001, corporate sustainability and what it means regarding your QMS.  Do you need to consider upgrading?  We will tackle the subject with a unique perspective, influenced by a project we’re currently implementing for a well known public utility.  Tune in March 28th for the first installment!

   
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  support 2:43 am on February 21, 2011 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: BIZPHYX ( 41 ), BIZPHYX: The TL 9000 Experts, reduction of network outages, TL 9000 for Cable providers, TL 9000 The Communications Quality Standard ( 2 )   

  Benefits Of TL 9000 To Cable Providers: Competitive Advantage 

  As we wrap up the series on the benefits of TL 9000 in multiple communications segments, I was thinking about how to distinguish a message regarding the benefits of the TL 9000 to service providers in the cable space.  Quite frankly the message is much the same regardless of market segment: by using TL 9000 as a standard quality management system for suppliers you can control costs within your supply chain, reduce supply chain risk and improve key performance in areas such as, on time deliveries and reduction of network outages.  All of these advantages make sense outright, just as they do for traditional telecommunications wireline and wireless service providers.   However, there is a way that cable providers can look at TL 9000 as being particularly beneficial to their industry-competitive advantage.

  TL 9000 can clearly help cable providers by bringing a strategic competitive weapon to the marketplace.  Cable providers are vying for the same customers against service providers with a long tradition of quality and network uptime.  Until now, this industry segment has not followed a single quality standard for their operations.  (Workmanship standards are another category and I’m sure standards exist for how equipment is installed and maintained.)  I am not disparaging cable providers, as they may not be aware that such a communications quality system exists.

  It is often said; when in Rome do as the Romans do.  Cable providers need to be aware that the major providers have already adopted the TL 9000 quality management standard.  TL 9000 and standardized network operating policies have been a strategic competitive weapon for wireline and some wireless service providers for quite some time.  Standardized measurements required for TL 9000 certification allow certified companies to benchmark themselves against their competitors within their service category. This means that at any given time they will know if they are best in class, worst in class, average, etc. for on time delivery, customer complaints, network or service outages and defective services.

  Imagine as a cable operator, if you reported this type of blind data and had access to it too? You would pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for this type of data from companies that lack the specific expertise of QuEST Forum, TL 9000’s sponsor.  QuEST Forum is made up of member service providers and suppliers that all have industry expertise to lend to working committees that develop the standard and the measurements.

  Cable companies could also encourage critical suppliers within their own supply chain to adopt TL 9000 so they would have a standard way of ensuring that suppliers meet their requirements. The TL 9000 quality standard would be a very effective way for cable suppliers to improve customer satisfaction based on fact based data, shorten their time to market and compete effectively with other providers in the communication’s marketplace. For more information about the standard, contact the TL 9000 Experts and/or e-mail us at info@bizphyx.com.

   
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  support 2:01 am on February 14, 2011 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: BIZPHX ( 2 ), BIZPHYX: TL 9000 Experts ( 5 ), improve OTD, risk management ( 3 ), TL 9000 in broadband, TL 9000 In VoP, TL 9000 The Communications Quality Standard ( 2 )   

  TL 9000 Application and Benefits In VoIP and Broadband 

  In our last few articles we’ve been emphasizing the benefits of implementing the communications quality standard, TL 9000.  I wrote about how the standard began in the wireline segment, being driven by major service providers such as AT&T and Verizon and how it’s beneficial to other industry segments such as ILECs and in wireless space.

  What about the rapidly emerging technologies such as broadband video and voice over IP? The truth is that the major service providers and their OEM suppliers are aggressively rolling out services in these spaces as well. Let’s assume for a moment that broadband and VoIP suppliers are different.  Actually there are some VoIP suppliers that may not be operating in the market segments we just mentioned.  So in that sense, they are different.  They probably have little familiarity with TL 9000.  I have actually been surprised at the number of suppliers that are unique to each of these communications markets.

  So let’s explore some benefits of TL 9000 to VoIP OEM and service suppliers.  Would you like to be assured that your on time delivery percentage improves? Would it be beneficial if your product was designed and developed according to customer requirements?  How would you feel about a product that was thoroughly tested under all conditions?  Does your firm have a disaster recovery plan that helps you continue to serve your customers under dire conditions, such as a loss of data or a facility outage? What if you could reduce the cost of providing your product or service and still maintain its high quality?

  The truth is that TL 9000 brings all of these benefits to the table through solid requirements that when “added” to the basic tenants of ISO 9001, create a standard that can be used by all telecommunications market segments.  The TL 9000 standard reflects the expertise of volunteer executives, who since 1998 have applied their competence in quality systems and their knowledge of past industry issues, in order to create a standard that can be used by all communications market segments.

  Furthermore, TL 9000 allows you to benchmark yourself against your competitors with solid data about on time delivery, customer complaints and other standard measures using blind data that gives no names, but does provide industry averages–best and worst in class and so forth.  As a result we’re starting to see broadband and VoIP suppliers/providers look to TL 9000 in their quality programs.  Why wouldn’t you implement TL 9000, the “communications” quality standard?  Doesn’t it seem like a no-brainer to improve the bottom line of your operations?  For further information on TL 9000 training or implementation contact: info@bizphyx.com.

  moz is discussing. Toggle Comments

   
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    moz 7:35 pm on October 5, 2018 Permalink

    Thank you for sharing your info. I really appreciate your efforts and I am waiting
    for your further post thank you once again.

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  support 4:18 am on February 9, 2011 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: BIZPHX: The TL 9000 Experts, ILECs ( 2 ), Independent Local Exchange Carriers, TL 9000 ( 75 )   

  TL 9000 Benefits For Independent Local Exchange Carriers (ILECs)? 

  This week we are discussing the benefits of TL 9000 for ILECs.   As an independent local exchange carrier executive you may have heard about TL 9000 or QuEST Forum, but may be unfamiliar with TL 9000 and wonder how it might benefit your company.  TL 9000 has been adopted as a common quality language across multiple suppliers and service providers in the telecommunications industry.  The beauty of TL 9000 is that it provides service providers like yourselves a way to ensure that your suppliers are using a systematic method for delivering their products and services to you.  It has been very successful in improving on time delivery and overall customer satisfaction since its introduction in 1998.

  One of the prime benefits of having one quality management system through the entire supply chain is that suppliers and service providers are that suppliers–can reduce cost of supply by eliminating rework resulting from poor installations, support services and products.  Furthermore, with TL 9000 there is an emphasis on risk management planning in order to help reduce risk of supply on your behalf.  Companies are required to identify risks to your projects in order to ensure that they consider them in advance, plan to eliminate or reduce them and recover should all else fail.  Risks such as labor shortages, single source suppliers and others are predicted in advance and dealt with.  These plans are required to be reviewed and updated regularly.

  Finally, there are formal means for receiving and responding to customer problem reports related to hardware, software and service products.  This process requires solutions to be provided by your suppliers within certain time frames according to the seriousness of the problem or require you to solve them according to customer contract arrangements depending on the type of business you are in.

  All of this means that you can standardize your system of tracking and reporting performance among your suppliers.  It reduces the amount of overhead you need to have to maintain multiple supplier report cards and can significantly reduce or eliminate supplier quality audits. I would encourage you to check into TL 9000 to see if it would work for your company as it has for many major service providers.  If you have any questions about TL 9000 implementation contact bclancy@bizphyx.com.

   
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  support 1:38 am on November 22, 2010 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Accessing Performance Data Reports, BIZPHYX: TL 9000 Experts ( 5 ), PDRs, QuEST Forum ( 38 ), TL 9000 ( 75 ), tl9000.org   

  Accessing Performance Data Reports: Have You Set Up The Correct Permissions? 

  Are you having trouble accessing information after you log into the TL 9000 web site?  It might be as simple as setting up the correct permissions.  A colleague’s firm recently joined QuEST Forum in order to view TL 9000 PDR’s (Performance Data Reports), but could not access them.  My colleague then tried to view the PDRs to see the trended data.  He was unable to see the data.  As it turns out, even though his firm became a member, he needed to log in and set permission for himself to view the information.

  QuEST Forum’s portal information strategy involves setting up various permissions on the web site to prevent unauthorized persons from gaining access to your company account and other information gateways.  If you’re having trouble viewing data, one of the first things you should do is check your user profile.  To do this, simply go to tl9000.org and log in.  Click on “manage user permissions”.  Choose the user and click on “edit permissions”.  Check the box that says “View TL 9000 Performance Data Reports”.

  As the primary administrator, you may set permissions for yourself and others in the company.  As a secondary user, you will need to contact the primary administrator of your company and request permission for activities such as viewing PDRs.  If you don’t know who your primary administrator is, you may search for the name at tl9000.org. Put your cursor on the TL 9000 Registration tab, then on Certified Registrations.  You will see a screen where you can search for your company.  When you find your company name, click on it.  The information will be listed.  This post should help you access information on the TL 9000 website.  If you require further assistance, contact bclancy@bizphyx.com.  As TL 9000 experts, our consultants are always available to answer questions about the TL 9000 standard and QuEST Forum.  Next week, we begin a highly requested series on “project planning”.

   
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  support 2:19 am on September 6, 2010 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: BIZPHYX ( 41 ), DSR Advisories, QuEST Forum ( 38 ), TL 9000 ( 75 ), TL 9000 EF&I ( 4 ), TL 9000 measurements ( 13 )   

  TL 9000 Measurements: DSR Advisories 

  As we continue the discussion on recent measurement changes, there are some changes that do not necessarily accompany the Release 4.5 Measurements Handbook , but are important to know.  One such change is the introduction of advisories on the DSR (Data Submission Report) that QuEST Forum emails to users of the Measurements Repository System, to confirm that measurements data has been received.  The DSR contains useful information including the submission date, which helps the auditor and your management determine whether or not the data was submitted timely.

  At the bottom of the DSR, you will see a notation called Advisory Message(s).  There may be one or more advisories listed along with an explanation as to what they mean.  This is due to the fact that QuEST Forum has upgraded their measurements repository algorithms to look for anomalies in your data submission.  There are thirteen such advisories.  You can find the list and guidance on the TL 9000 website under alerts and news/data submissions.  Advisories are designed to tell you that something odd was noticed in the data. Here is an example message: “NPR1 >>>>> Advisory #1 – the calculated Measurement over the smoothed period is perfect.” This doesn’t mean that something is necessarily wrong with the data, but it looks odd since the measure has been perfect (i.e. no problem reports) over the period monitored.

  What does this mean to you?  As a certified organization you are required to analyze the data and determine if it was wrong.  If there is no issue, no action is required.  If the data is wrong, you are required to resubmit it.  More importantly, you will be required to demonstrate conformance with this requirement.  Therefore, you should use a text or word document to record that you investigated the data in question and that there was nothing wrong, or record what was wrong and what corrective action was taken.  This should answer any questions you have regarding DSR Advisories.   If you require further information or upgrade support, contact bclancy@bizphyx.com.