The Purpose Of Using Acceptance Sampling

By Marcia Marks


Acceptance sampling is a statistical method that many companies implement for ensuring the control of quality in production lines. The personnel of a firm can either deny or accept a batch of finished or partially completed products. From the production queue, employees can choose a sample and verify its integrity. Once the product passes the testing phase, it can be released for consumers. Checking every item could take much time and this is avoided.

The process is normally used in two main cases: while the product is still in the facility, or just before it is ready for release. The US military was the first institution to implement the technique. Everything started with the verification of a bullet production line. In the case in which multiple broken bullets would have reached military use, the effects would have been unpleasant. A random sample was selected from all the available items.

The acceptance depends on the number of defects that are found, but the quality is not the main concern. Instead, the thing that matters is the fact that the products can be released on the market or not. Usually, the producer gives a lot to the consumer and a lot can be accepted if the number of defects does not exceed a certain limit. Because only a sample is taken that will decide the fate of most products in the same line, one hundred percent reliability cannot be assured.

There are three different implementations of the methods: single, double and sequential. For the first type of application, a specific number of samples are taken and an acceptable number of defects exist. The double type can be a little more complicated, but basically is not very different. Sequential sampling is just an extension of the second method.

The technique is appreciated for various reasons and one of them is that a full lot does not have to be checked for each individual piece. Valuable products can be saved. Some good examples may be given from a real production line. When a company makes candies, it can struggle to keep the percentage of unsuitable sweets under ten. Five percent of the batch is tested and if the broken pieces exceed this level, the whole line can be canceled.

The firm is the one that establishes the acceptable defect percentage and the numbers can vary. Another important decision is related to choosing the samples for testing. Statistical procedures are normally used. Every company needs to select the size of the batch that is a representation of the corresponding larger lot.

Most of the time, the sample meant for checking is like the image of its batch and is also considered the quality mark of the lot. If a batch has a high percentage, it is seen as a poor one. When the standards are high, the defects limit level is usually very low.

Firms can implement acceptance sampling much in their endeavors and different industries worldwide can benefit from this. In order to establish the quality of a lot, companies can use maximum percentages. Examples can be seen in which people can understand the ways of using the technique and its important role.




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