6.5 AQL - Normal Inspection

Lot Size Sample Size Acc Rej Criteria for Continuing Inspection
1 - 8 All * * N/A
9 - 25 3 0 2 If 1 defective found, go to S/S of 8
(Cumulative S/S) 8 1 2 If 1 defective found, go to S/S of 8
26 - 90 13 2 3 N/A
91 - 150 13 1 4 If 2 - 3 defective found, go to S/S of 20
(Cumulative S/S) 20 3 4 If 2 - 3 defective found, go to S/S of 20
151 - 280 13 1 6 If 2 - 5 defectives found, go to S/S of 32
(Cumulative S/S) 32 5 6 If 2 - 5 defectives found, go to S/S of 32
281 - 500 20 2 8 If 3 - 7 defectives found, go to S/S of 50
(Cumulative S/S) 50 7 8 If 3 - 7 defectives found, go to S/S of 50
501 - 1200 32 3 11 If 4 - 10 defectives found, go to S/S of 80
(Cumulative S/S) 80 10 11 If 4 - 10 defectives found, go to S/S of 80
1201 - 3200 50 5 15 If 6 - 14 defectives found, go to S/S of 125
(Cumulative S/S) 125 14 15 If 6 - 14 defectives found, go to S/S of 125
3201 - 10,000 80 8 22 If 9 - 21 defectives found, go to S/S of 200
(Cumulative S/S) 200 21 22 If 9 - 21 defectives found, go to S/S of 200
10,001 - 35,000 125 12 22 If 13 - 21 defectives found. go to S/S of 200
(Cumulative S/S) 200 21 22 If 13 - 21 defectives found. go to S/S of 200
Over 35,000 200 21 22 N/A

An AQL means that as long as a supplier maintains his / her process average (% defective) at the assigned AQL or lower, there is a very high probability that shipments from that supplier (inspected using the Exchange sampling plans) will be accepted. Conversely, there is a very high probability that shipments (inspected using the Exchange sampling plans) will be rejected if a supplier's process average (% defective) remains higher than the assigned AQL.

*Reject only defectives found.

QA Links

Acceptance Quality Levels (AQLs)

All Hardlines Merchandise

Jewelry, Shoes, Clothing, Softside Luggage and any Cut & Sewn Item

Extra Value, Budget, or Entry Price Point Type of Merchandise

Here is how the random sampling works:

Let us say that the shipment or lot size is 2,000 items or pieces. Then:

  1. Take a sample of 50 pieces at random from this shipment.
  2. Inspect all 50 pieces.
  3. If 2 or less defective pieces are found, accept the shipment.
  4. If 8 or more defective pieces are found, reject the shipment.
  5. If 3 to 7 defective pieces are found, then take additional 75 samples at random.
  6. Inspect all 75 samples.
  7. If a total of 7 or less defective pieces are found, accept the shipment.
  8. If a total of 8 or more defective pieces are found, reject the shipment.

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