Acceptance sampling is used to check a lot or a batch of product to identify if it is acceptable to the customer. Typically, a customer or a regulatory body will require a guarantee of quality.
Note
AQL and RQL can change depending on the product and the industry. The Food and Drug Agency (FDA), has different guidelines for the use of the product. An example of these can be found in CFR 21 sec 800.10, where the AQL levels of surgical gloves and examination gloves are discussed.
The number of nonconforming product or nonconformities observed in a sample from the population can act as an indicator for the amount of problems in the whole lot. By observing fewer defects or defective items than the upper limit in the acceptance plan, we can state that the total of these in the population is likely to be less than the critical Acceptable Quality Level (AQL). If we observe more defects in the sample, then it is likely that the population does...