4.0 AQL - Tightened Inspection
Lot Size | Sample Size | Acc | Rej | Criteria for Continuing Inspection |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 - 8 | All | * | * | N/A |
9 - 90 | 5 | 0 | 2 | If 1 defective found, go to S/S of 13* |
(Cumulative S/S) | 13 | 1 | 2 | If 1 defective found, go to S/S of 13* |
91 - 150 | 13 | 0 | 2 | If 1 defective found, go to S/S of 20 |
(Cumulative S/S) | 20 | 1 | 2 | If 1 defective found, go to S/S of 20 |
151 - 280 | 13 | 1 | 3 | If 2 defectives found, go to S/S of 32 |
(Cumulative S/S) | 32 | 2 | 3 | If 2 defectives found, go to S/S of 32 |
281 - 500 | 20 | 1 | 4 | If 2 - 3 defectives found, go to S/S of 50 |
(Cumulative S/S) | 50 | 3 | 4 | If 2 - 3 defectives found, go to S/S of 50 |
501 - 1200 | 32 | 2 | 6 | If 3 - 5 defectives found, go to S/S of 80 |
(Cumulative S/S) | 80 | 5 | 6 | If 3 - 5 defectives found, go to S/S of 80 |
1201 - 3200 | 50 | 3 | 9 | If 4 - 8 defectives found, go to S/S of 125 |
(Cumulative S/S) | 125 | 8 | 9 | If 4 - 8 defectives found, go to S/S of 125 |
3201 - 10,000 | 80 | 5 | 13 | If 6 - 12 defectives found, go to S/S of 200 |
(Cumulative S/S) | 200 | 12 | 13 | If 6 - 12 defectives found, go to S/S of 200 |
10,001 - 35,000 | 125 | 8 | 19 | If 9 - 18 defectives found. go to S/S of 315 |
(Cumulative S/S) | 315 | 18 | 19 | If 9 - 18 defectives found. go to S/S of 315 |
Over 35,000 | 200 | 12 | 19 | If 13 - 18 defectives found. go to S/S of 312 |
(Cumulative S/S) | 315 | 18 | 19 | If 13 - 18 defectives found. go to S/S of 312 |
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.
**If lot size is 13 units or less, inspect all and reject only defectives found.
Note: Tightened sampling plans are used by Exchange for reinspection of a previously failed lot and when a supplier's quality history indicates a higher than normal risk of sub-standard quality being shipped. We recommend suppliers always use the tightened sampling plans.
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:
- Take a sample of 50 pieces at random from this shipment.
- Inspect all 50 pieces.
- If 2 or less defective pieces are found, accept the shipment.
- If 8 or more defective pieces are found, reject the shipment.
- If 3 to 7 defective pieces are found, then take additional 75 samples at random.
- Inspect all 75 samples.
- If a total of 7 or less defective pieces are found, accept the shipment.
- If a total of 8 or more defective pieces are found, reject the shipment.