tl 9000 is a quality management practice designed by the quest forum in 1998. it was created to focus on supply chain directives throughout the international telecommunications industry, including the usa. as with iso/ts 16949 for the automotive industry and as9000 for the aerospace industry, tl 9000 specializes the generic iso 9001 to meet the needs of one industrial sector, which for tl 9000 is the information and communications technology (ict)—extending from service providers through ict equipment manufacturers through the suppliers and contractors and subcontractors that provide electronic components and software components to those ict equipment manufacturers.