Acceptance Sampling Schemes for Manufacturers

Quality often means different things to different people but can generally be regarded as meaning that the product meets certain targets. Quality control is crucial as it checks the product meets the expectations of both manufacturer and customer.

As 100% inspection is not usually an economic possibility, sampling inspection is the process commonly implemented and that offers substantial benefits namely:
- Quicker testing
- Cheaper testing

Acceptance sampling is a statistical tool used to help make decisions concerning whether or not a batch (or lot) of product should be released for consumer consumption or use.

NEW Sampling Standards

BSI Business Information has just published BS 6000 Parts 1, 2 and 3 that provide guidance on selecting procedures and systems on acceptance sampling.

The aim of acceptance sampling inspection is to see that the producer submits lots at a quality level acceptable to the consumer. A real effort should be made to ensure that a system is devised so that the producer is responsible for quality of the product. Sampling inspection can and should lead to less inspection work, lower cost and good quality for the customer.

NEW

BS 6000:2005 Guide to the selection and usage of acceptance sampling systems for inspection of discrete items in lots has been updated and revised and now comes in three parts:

Part 1 General guide to acceptance sampling

Part 2 Guide to sampling by attributes

Part 3 Guide to sampling by variables

This newly-revised standard gives guidance in the selection of an acceptance sampling system, scheme or plan relating to products that are supplied in lots and that can be classified as consisting of discrete items. It replaces BS 6000:1996 which is now withdrawn.