milestones

1996. A group of leading telecom service providers, including Bell Atlantic, BellSouth, Pacific Bell and Southwestern Bell, initiate an effort to establish better quality requirements for the telecom industry. The goal is to create a consistent set of quality system requirements that would apply to the global telecom industry. The Quality Excellence for Suppliers of Telecommunications Leadership (QuEST) Forum is formed.

1997. At a meeting in Baltimore, USA, QuEST Forum introduces the basis and concept of this new quality standard to a larger group of suppliers, who embrace and pledge support immediately.

1998. QuEST Forum was incorporated. At the inaugural meeting, work groups began drafting the set of quality requirements to be incorporated into the TL 9000 Handbook. QuEST Forum forms member work groups, who are tasked with the development of the TL 9000 hardware, software and services requirements. Later that year, the team adds measurements to the set of requirements.

1999. Quest Forum unveils its first TL 9000 Requirements and Measurements Handbooks are released. Over 15,000 copies were sold in the first year of publication. Partnerships set up with Registrars and Accreditation Parties to establish third party TL 9000 certification process.  American Society of Quality (ASQ) is appointed the Forum Administrator and University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) is appointed Measurements Administrator. Regional meeting held in Brussels.

2000. QuEST Forum launches its first Best Practices Conference to bring together thought leaders, industry experts and practitioners to share, interpret and apply best-in-class practices across a variety of quality standards. First TL 9000 registration is accepted after 12 month pilot program. Later that year, the first TL 9000 industry trend data is published. Requirements Handbook Release 3.0 aligns with newly-issued ISO 9001:2000. Regional meeting is held in Yokohama, Japan.

2001. QuEST Forum now has 163 members with 66 TL 9000 registered companies

2002. Measurements Handbook Release 3.5 incorporates RQMS Measurements.

2003. QuEST Forum launches a global effort to deploy TL 9000. Regional hub launched in EMEA. First global conference is held in Seoul, Korea.

2004. QuEST Forum Executive delegation makes first visit to China meeting with many network operators, government officials, quality and organizational standards bodies, and suppliers. Online TL 9000 data submission capability is unveiled.

2005. Spear One is appointed the Forum Administrator. Sixth Annual Best Practices Conference in San Jose, California is a huge success with Web telecasts.

2006. The India Regional Hub is established. TL 9000 Requirements and Measurements Release 4.0 Handbooks are released. Seventh Annual Best Practices Conference is held in Research Triangle Park, S. Carolina. The Jump Start Mentor Program is deployed.

2007. The Greater China Regional Hub is established. First APAC Regional Conference is held in Mumbai. First Organizational Effectiveness Review to evaluate QuEST Forum operations and conduct industry benchmarks is completed.

2008. QuEST Forum celebrates its tenth anniversary.