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Q&A - TL 9000 Certifications and Process


The Contact Us function at the top of every page on the tl9000.org website is the preferred means for asking questions and receiving answers from the subject matter experts of the TIA QuEST Forum. Over the last few years many questions have been answered through this means. The number of each question is the ticket number in the Contact Us tracking system.

These questions generally relate to the TL 9000 certification process and methods for managing a TL 9000 certification.

Question 9041 — Is it possible to certify a product that is not yet GA? Some units are in FOA.

Answer — Products are not certified to TL 9000; the Quality Management System applicable to the processes used to develop, produce, deliver and support the product is certified. To become certified, performance data must be provided for those products within the categories applicable to the certification. If the organization is certified in the category for the new product, then its data is simply provided per the rules listed in the Measurements Handbook. If the product is in a category not already included in the organization’s certification, that category may not be added to the certification until data has been reported.

Question 9327 — There is another division of our company that is to be certified in the near term, but can they use the same certification that we have for submitting the measurements? I imagine that there has to be a different certification for different certificates.

Answer — There are two possible answers here.

1. If the other division wants a certificate that is different from the other certificate, then two certifications will be required and the other division will need to submit their own measurements through their own certification.

2. One certificate can apply to more than one location. If a single certificate will fit the needs of the company, then you could use the same certification and use the location field if they are the same category or you could add their category if different.

Question 9378 — Must we get an ISO 9001 certificate before applying for TL 9000? Or can we just build a QMS?

Answer — You do not have to be ISO certified before applying to TL 9000.

Question 11086 — I want to know if the TL 9000 includes also in the monthly reports the other products of our company, such as security cameras that we produce too.

Answer — The other products are included only if you include them in the scope of your certification.

Question 11459 — We have been reporting TL data in the 7.7.1 and 7.7.2 categories. Our customer is moving production to another site and will only do New Product Introduction product at our site. Can we maintain our TL 9000 certification without reporting production units in our measurements?

Answer — Since your categories are 7.7.1 and 7.7.2, your product is the building of the boards and not the boards themselves. To build the boards you must maintain production capable processes, even for prototype boards. There is no reason you can't continue to maintain your TL 9000 certification just because you are building prototype boards.

Question 12211 — In the "profile" there are "Not Applicable Clauses" noticed. What should I put there?

Answer — You list clauses in the Requirements handbook that you do not intend to apply in your certification. If there are none, just list None.

Question 12573 — 

  1. We had a client transfer their TL certificate to another CB. Will their" Date first Certified" on profile change?
  2. Could it be possible they have 2 TL certificates from different CBs?

Answer — 

  1. No, the date first certified will not change when you change CBs.
  2. It is possible to have 2 certificates from different CBs.

Question 13012 — Per 8.5.2.HS.1 item b) For each product and its versions, the following shall be identified where they exist: development or production tools essential to repeat product creation - is it good enough just to include equipment for production? Can a company register to TL 9000 with less than 12 months of data? How do you calculate the NPR if there is less than 12 months of data. For NPR's - do you have to track the total network elements for all customers in the field under each category?

Answer — Per 8.5.2.HS.1 item b) For each product and its versions, the following shall be identified where they exist: development or production tools essential to repeat product creation - is it good enough just to include equipment for production? - We cannot give a yes or no answer to this question. If the only tools needed to repeat product creation are the equipment used for production, then that would be sufficient. However, all tools needed must be included.

Can a company register to TL 9000 with less than 12 months of data? The organization is required to submit three consecutive months of data prior to certification. Depending on the normalization units for the categories applicable to the organization’s scope, there may be population data needed that would, of course, cover many months or even years.

How do you calculate the NPR if there is less than 12 months of data? NPR consists of the number of problem reports received in a given month. It does not cover multiple months.

For NPR's - do you have to track the total network elements for all customers in the field under each category? If the normalization unit is network element for the category applicable to the scope of certification, then yes, the total active field population has to be tracked. It the normalization factor is units, then the total number of units has to be tracked. If the normalization factor contains the word “shipped”, then only quantity shipped in the 12 months ending prior to the month be reported shall be used.

There are a number of people that may of further assistance to you depending on what area within TL 9000 is of concern. The best method to obtain answers to specific questions is through the "Contact Us" function.

Question 13069 — How much is it for certification and how long will it take? We are a telecommunication contractor and we have ISO 9001.

Answer — There is no specific answer to how much it will cost or how long it will take. It depends on your particular situation. There is a lot of information on our website. Start at https://tl9000.org/about/tl9000/overview.html. Click on the FAQ for New Registrants link then click on the applicable question. There are other questions there that might help you. The whole section will also help.

The fact that you are ISO 9001 is a big head start and will certainly speed up the process as well as reduce the total cost.

Question 13151 — I would like to know if TL 9000 is applicable or recommended for component level supplier who already implements ISO 9001 as well as IATF 16949 within the organization.

Answer — TL 9000 may or may not be of value to you as a component supplier. This is a decision you will have to make for yourself based on your customers' expectations and the importance of the telecommunications market to your business. You will be interested in the comparison of TL 9000 to IATF 16949 that is available on the tl9000.org web site. A link to this document is located at https://tl9000.org/about/tl9000/comparison.html. This page also has a high level comparison of TL and TS. You may also wish to take advantage of the Jump Start Mentor program. Information on this free introduction to TL 9000 is available at https://tl9000.org/about/tl9000/mentor_program.html. The purpose of a Jump Start Mentor session is to provide you with additional information to help you decide if TL 9000 certification is appropriate and worthwhile for your business.

Question 13222 — When obtaining a new TL 9000 certification, can you register as H,S,V for categories such as 3.2.2.1.2.2 without including a category in the Services Section (7) of the Category Tables?

Answer — Yes, an organization may select the service (V) specialty without having selected a “service” category. This would mean that the service requirements in the Requirements Handbook would apply, but there would be no service measurements to report. The selection of service without an associated service category selection is allowed because certain “service activities” are tightly coupled to the delivery and support of a hardware/software product. It is therefore to the benefit of the customer and the organization that the service requirements be applied.

Question 13257 — If we request the Jump Start Mentor program (free of charge) will we be obligated to enroll in the TIA QuEST Forum?

Answer — There are no obligations to enroll for requesting Jump Start Mentor program.