The customer/supplier quality process: telecommunications quality through teamwork

The customer/supplier quality process (CSQP) was initiated by representatives of the seven regional telephone companies as a long-term initiative to stem the rising cost of defective products reaching the field. The authors discuss the early development of the CSQP process, the goals of the process, Bellcore´s role in defect prevention and development of CSQP, and a summary of the CSQP elements. CSQP is envisioned as the methodology of the future for relationships between telecommunications service providers and their suppliers. CSQP´s role in the future is outlined