In 1984, Bellcore Software Quality Assurance Engineering (SQAE) was established to assist clients in assuring the quality of software they purchase. The authors present Bellcore SQAE's software quality assurance approach and discuss the objectives and accomplishments of the software surveillance program. They outline a program which focuses on developing a cooperative relationship between the buyer and supplier to successfully meet some of the challenges that face the Bellcore client companies in the 1990s and beyond.>

A vital and large part of maintaining high national telecommunications standards is the success of telecommunications suppliers in providing quality products and services for the nation's telecommunications network. A supplier quality improvement program has been developed to address this objective. The program stresses long-term relationships between the telephone companies and their suppliers with an emphasis on customer-supplier teamwork. The goal of this teamwork is the evolution of suppliers who consistently bring quality products and services to the network and who continually strive to improve their operations. The responsibilities of both customers and suppliers is the initiation and implementation of a supplier quality improvement program are described.>