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.>

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.>