Improving Quality By Using Acceptance Sampling

By Patty Goff


Several questions are often raised on how the organization confirms that its products supplied are compliant with the set quality standards. In most cases companies relays on checking in coming materials. This is further compared with their quality standards as well as supply generated documents such as certificate of analysis. Based such analyzed results, the individuals charged with inspections can either reject or accept a shipment. Mostly organizations use acceptance sampling approach as outlined by MIL STD.

Other organizations might also prefer the use of modern sampling procedures fronted by ANSI (American National Standards Institute) and ASQ (American Society for Quality). Regardless of the approach utilized, most quality assurance professional asserts that appropriate method should aims at minimizing inspection costs, preventing the entry of low quality materials from the organization production process and risk management.

According to quality professionals, this sampling strategy is perceived to be just like another inspection tool. Expansion of resource inspection will be significant in ensuring better production through inspection of critical materials received. That is if the organization does not consider importance of inspecting such material, it might end up jeopardizing quality of goods produced. It will subject the corporate to cross their figure hoping that their products meet the set standards.

This is perceived to be occupying the middle ground between one hundred percent inspection and no inspection. Such strategies have been associated with high results just as inspection tools. In the olden days, quality professionals objected sampling strategies as unworthy approach in ensuring quality improvement tool in comparison with statistical approaches as well as accept or reject conclusions. These assertions by such professionals were believed to be the solemn truth regarding quality assurance. However, recent studies have proved otherwise, as the approach is viewed as the best, efficient and effective approach in quality improvement.

For example, in a situation where the company inspector uses such approaches in checking incoming products or the materials as such information obtained are further used for making decision on accepting or rejecting conclusion. Through this, it will be possible to notice the actual defect as well failure might be noted along with the name of the supplier, product code and various important traceability elements associated with the supply unlike if the inspectors perform an inspection using ANSI/ASQ Z1.4.

Through this historical data will be made available by supplier, other traceability elements and products. Such quality data can only be achieved through this sampling strategy. If so, histograms, Pareto charts, control charts and other statistical analysis could be analyzed receiving inspections data.

Through this information, defect between suppliers could be compared. It also gives an opportunity to confirm the control or lack of control processes by the supplier. This information could be used to collaborate work with the assistance of the supplier to help the vendor improve the quality of its manufacturing processes and supplied products.

This approach serves as a compliment strategy for improvement of quality using the accept or reject conclusions. Previously, unknown vendors could just quantify their products and such information used in cost reduction in the supply chain and quality improvement. Alternatively, it can be done at a little or no cost to organizations which have already implemented the use of ANSI/ASQ measures.




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