What is Acceptance Sampling?

About Acceptance Sampling:

• It is a statistical measure used in quality control.It allows a company to determine the quality of a batch of products by selecting a specified number for testing.
• It tests a representative sampleof the product for defects. The quality of this designated sample will be viewed as the quality level for the entire group of products.
• The process involves first, determining the size of a product lot to be tested, then the number of products to be sampled and finally the number of defects acceptable within the sample batch.
• Products are chosen at random for sampling. It does not assure the quality of the complete set of products from which the sample is derived.
• Origin:
  • Acceptance sampling in its modern industrial form dates from the early 1940s.
  • It was popularized by Dodge and Romig and originally applied by the U.S. military to the testing of bullets during World War II. 
• Need for Acceptance Sampling:
  • A company cannot test every one of its products at all times.
  • There may be too many to inspect at a reasonable cost or within a reasonable timeframe.
  • Also, comprehensive testing might damage the product or make it unfit for sale in some way. 
  • Testing a small sample would be indicative without ruining the bulk of the product run.