Call Center/CRM
Info Tech 
IP Communications 
Mobile 
Green 
Satellite 
Robotics 
Telecom Platform Deployment Featured Article
December 28, 2009
NEBS Feature: NEI's TL9000 Certification Enhances Quality Management System
By Marisa Torrieri, TMCnet Editor
(NEBS)
NEI, a provider of application platforms, appliances and deployment services for software developers, OEMs and service providers worldwide, has announced that its quality management system in Canton, Mass., has achieved TL9000 certification, aligning with its Plano, Texas, facility under one common standard.
In doing so, NEI said it has also maintained its company-wide ISO 9001:2000 registration, and its facilities in Plano and Canton employ a unified Quality Leadership System that has been found to be fully compliant with both TL9000 and ISO 9001:2000 requirements. TL9000 is a more stringent telecommunications quality standard for management and measurement systems, which includes all of the elements of ISO 9001.
The announcement is significant for a number of reasons, John Gauthier, director of quality assurance, for NEI, told TMCnet.
“The TL9000 is like ISO 9000 on steroids,” Gaulthier told TMCnet. “It has 88 more requirements that are more stringent, that we have to follow.”
Having both the Plano and Canton campuses under a common certification gives NEI a distinct risk advantage over its competitors. Plus, NEI will be better able manage both facilities – and provide backup recovery in the case of a “significant event, such as a tornado,” Gauthier said.
In a separate press release, he added, “Our alignment to a common set of manufacturing standards and management processes make it possible for NEI to offer true manufacturing duality – meaning we can make any product at either site without sacrificing product quality or customer satisfaction. Business continuity is a critical element of the NEI value proposition – one that differentiates us and helps safeguard our customers from unexpected or disruptive events.”
NEI’s QLS also includes demonstrated cost- and performance-based improvements of reliability and quality performance of products and services.
The requirements needed to achieve TL9000 compliance include:
* An additional 88 specific clauses that focus on strategic management to customer expectations and organizational accountability;
* Customer Requirements Traceability through engineering design development;
* Enhanced attention to Lifecycle Management, planning, and verification of products;
* Continuous product validation and change control throughout product lifecycles;
* Increased emphasis on customer relationships and communication;
* Integrated supplier quality management for continuous improvement;
* Comprehensive disaster recovery processes;
* Benchmark metrics to manage company-wide continuous improvement.
Marisa Torrieri is a TMCnet Web editor, covering IP hardware and mobility, including IP phones, smartphones, fixed-mobile convergence and satellite technology. She also compiles and regularly contributes to TMCnet's gadgets and satellite e-Newsletters. To read more of Marisa's articles, please visit her columnist page.
Edited by Marisa Torrieri
» More Telecom Platform Deployment Feature Articles
Related content you may also be interested in…
