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Code of Federal Regulations Title 7. Agriculture § 7.43.106 Choosing AQL's and sampling plans

Current as of October 03, 2022 | Updated by FindLaw Staff

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(a) The selection of AQL's and sampling plans for given lot sizes depends on too many factors to permit the issuance of a “pre-selected” standard set of plans for specified lot sizes. Each user of the standards of this subpart should select AQL's and sampling plans that are tailored to best meet his needs.

(b) Some of the factors that must be considered prior to selecting the AQL's are:

(1) Class of defects such as major and minor:  Major defects would generally require lower AQL's than those for minor defects;

(2) Process capabilities under good commercial practice with respect to the defects in question:  For example, if under normal production processes, the defect level cannot be kept below 2.0 percent defective, the selection of an AQL of 0.15 percent defective, although desirable for the defects in question, may not be practical;

(3) Consumer preferences:  These may require higher AQL's or permit lower AQL's than process capabilities would indicate;  and

(4) Time and cost required to sample and inspect a lot under various AQL's:  The smaller the AQL the more time and cost of inspection.

(c) Some of the factors that may be considered prior to selecting the sampling plans for given lot sizes are:

(1) The applicable AQL(s):  The AQL dictates, among other things, the smallest sample size that can be used and the size of the “jumps” from one sample size to the next larger one;

(2) The relative ability of the plans to discriminate between “good” and “bad” lots:  Although several plans in these standards have the same AQL, they differ in their ability to reject lots worse than the AQL's. The OC curve in the standards of this subpart provide the basis for determining the discriminating ability of each plan;

(3) The amount, time, and cost of sampling required;

(4) The size and value of the lots relative to the producer and consumer protection a sampling plan affords:  One may be willing to take larger risks of passing “bad” lots that are small or of lesser value than they would for larger more valuable lots;

(5) The knowledge about the lot(s) to be submitted for inspection:  Lots consisting of product produced under essentially the same conditions may require smaller sample sizes than those consisting of product produced by different shifts and different raw stock for example;  and

(6) The record of the quality level of previously submitted lots:  The sample size can be smaller for lots submitted from a supplier with a consistent record of quality levels significantly better than the specified AQL(s) than sample sizes for the supplier whose records show considerable variability in quality, “borderline” supplies or product worse than the AQL.

MASTER TABLE OF SINGLE AND DOUBLE SAMPLING PLANS1

Acceptable quality levels

Sample size code

Sample

0.065

0.10

0.15

0.25

0.40

0.65

1.0

1.5

letter

size

Ac Re

Ac Re

Ac Re

Ac Re

Ac Re

Ac Re

Ac Re

Ac Re

AA

n1=1

A

n1=2

B

n1=3

nt=8

C

n1=4

D

n1=5

E

n1=6

EE

n1=7

F

n1=9

G

n1=11

H

n1=13

0 1

J

n1=21

0 1

0 2

nt=31

1 2

K

n1=29

0 1

0 2

1 2

nt=65

1 2

L

n1=48

0 1

0 2

1 2

2 3

n1=72

1 2

M

n1=84

0 1

0 2

0 3

2 3

3 4

nt=120

1 2

nt=132

2 3

N

n1=126

0 1

0 2

0 3

2 3

3 4

4 5

nt=180

1 2

nt=210

2 3

P

n1=200

0 1

0 2

0 3

2 3

3 4

4 5

6 7

nt=284

1 2

nt=326

2 3

Q

n1=315

0 1

0 2

0

2 3

3 4

4 5

6 7

8 9

nt=435

1 2

nt=519

2 3

R

n1=500

0 2

0 3

2 3

3 4

4 5

6 7

9 10

12 13

nt=644

1 2

nt=836

2 3

S

n1=800

0 3

2 3

3 4

4 5

6 7

9 10

13 14

18 19

nt=1304

2 3

T

n1=1250

2 3

3 4

4 5

6 7

9 10

13 14

19 20

26 27

U

n1=2000

3 4

4 5

6 7

9 10

13 14

19 20

28 29

39 40

Acceptable quality levels

Sample

size

code

Sample

2.5

4.0

5.0

6.5

8.5

10.0

12.5

15.0

letter

size

Ac Re

Ac Re

Ac Re

Ac Re

Ac Re

Ac Re

Ac Re

Ac Re

AA

n1=1

0 1

A

n1=2

0 1

B

n1=3

0 1

0 3

1 2

nt=8

2 3

C

n1=4

0 1

1 2

D

n1=5

0 1

1 2

E

n1=6

1 2

2 3

EE

n1=7

2 3

F

n1=9

0 1

1 2

2 3

3 4

G

n1=1

1 2

2 3

3 4

H

n1=13

2 3

3 4

4 5

J

n1=21

0 2

2 3

1 4

3 4

3 5

4 5

5 6

6 7

nt=31

2 3

3 4

5 6

K

n1=29

2 3

1 4

3 4

4 5

3 7

5 6

6 7

7 8

nt=65

6 7

9 10

L

n1=48

3 4

4 5

5 6

6 7

7 8

8 9

10 11

11 12

n1=72

M

n1=84

4 5

6 7

7 8

9 10

11 12

13 14

15 16

18 19

nt=120

nt=132

N

n1=126

6 7

9 10

10 11

13 14

16 17

18 19

22 23

26 27

nt=180

nt=210

P

n1=200

9 10

13 14

15 16

19 20

24 25

27 28

33 34

39 40

nt=284

nt=326

Q

n1=315

13 14

19 20

22 23

28 29

35 36

41 42

50 51

59 60

nt=435

nt=519

R

n1=500

18 19

28 29

33 34

42 43

53 54

62 63

76 77

90 91

nt=644

nt=836

S

n1=800

27 28

42 43

50 510

64 65

82 83

95 96

117 118

140 141

nt=1304

T

n1=1250

41 42

63 64

76 77

U

n1=2000

62 63

96 97

1 Double plans are indicated by 2 sample sizes, n1 (first) and nt (total). Ac=Acceptance number Re=Rejection number.

SAMPLING PLANS AND OPERATING CHARACTERISTIC (OC) CURVES FOR AQL=0.065 PERCENT DEFECTIVE (OR AQL=0.065 DEFECTS PER HUNDRED UNITS)

[Sampling plans—AQL=0.065]

Identification letter of OC curve

Comparable sampling

Q

R

S, T

U

plans

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

315

0

1

624

1

2

1250

2

3

2,000

3

Double

500

0

2

800

0

3

644

1

2

1304

2

3

nc=Cumulative sample size. Ac=Acceptance number. Re=Rejection number.

SAMPLING PLANS AND OPERATING CHARACTERISTIC (OC) CURVES FOR AQL=0.10 PERCENT DEFECTIVE (OR AQL=0.10 DEFECTS PER HUNDRED UNITS)

[Sampling plans—AQL=0.10]

Identification letter of OC curve

Comparable

P

Q

R, S

sampling plans

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

200

0

1

408

1

2

800

2

3

Double

315

0

2

500

0

3

435

1

2

836

2

3

Identification letter of OC curve

Comparable sampling

T

U

plans

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

1,250

3

4

2,000

4

Double

nc=Cumulative sample size. Ac=Acceptance number. Re=Rejection number.

SAMPLING PLANS AND OPERATING CHARACTERISTIC (OC) CURVES FOR AQL=0.15 PERCENT DEFECTIVE (OR AQL=0.15 DEFECTS PER HUNDRED UNITS)

[Sampling plans—AQL=0.15]

Identification letter of OC curve

Comparable sampling

N

P

Q

plans

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

126

0

1

264

1

2

500

2

3

Double

200

0

2

315

0

3

284

1

2

519

2

3

Identification letter of OC curve

Comparable sampling

R,S

T

U

plans

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

800

3

4

1,250

4

5

2,000

6

7

Double

nc= Cumulative sample size. Ac=Acceptance number. Re=Rejection number.

SAMPLING PLANS AND OPERATING CHARACTERISTIC (OC) CURVES FOR AQL = 0.25 DEFECTS PER HUNDRED UNITS

[Sampling plans—AQL = 0.25]

Identification letter of OC curve

Comparable sampling

M

N

P, Q

R

plans

c

Ac

Re

c

Ac

Re

c

Ac

Re

c

Ac

Re

Single

84

0

1

168

1

2

315

2

3

500

3

4

Double

126

0

2

200

0

3

180

1

2

326

2

3

Identification letter of OC curve

Comparable sampling

S

T

U

plans

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

800

4

5

1250

6

7

2000

9

10

Double

nc = Cumulative sample size. Ac = Acceptance number. Re = Rejection number.

SAMPLING PLANS AND OPERATING CHARACTERISTIC (OC) CURVES FOR AQL = 0.40 PERCENT DEFECTIVE (OR AQL = 0.40 DEFECTS PER HUNDRED UNITS)

[Sampling plans—AQL = 0.40]

Identification letter of OC curve

Comparable

L

M

N, P

Q

sampling plans

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

48

0

1

108

1

2

200

2

3

315

3

4

Double

84

0

2

126

0

3

120

1

2

210

2

3

Identification letter of OC curve

Comparable

R

S

T

U

sampling plans

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

500

4

5

800

6

7

1250

9

10

2000

13

10

Double

nc = Cumulative sample size. Ac = Acceptance number. Re = Rejection number.

SAMPLING PLANS AND OPERATING CHARACTERISTIC (OC) CURVES FOR AQL = 0.65 PERCENT DEFECTIVE (OR AQL = 0.65 DEFECTS PER HUNDRED UNITS)

[Sampling plans—AQL = 0.65]

Identification letter of OC curve

Comparable sampling

K

L

M, N

plans

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

29

0

1

66

1

2

126

2

3

Double

48

0

2

84

0

3

72

1

2

132

2

3

Identification letter of OC curve

Comparable sampling

P

Q

R

plans

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

200

3

4

315

4

5

500

6

7

Double

Identification letter of OC curve

Comparable sampling

S

T

U

plans

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

800

9

10

1250

13

14

2000

19

20

Double

nc = Cumulative sample size. Ac = Acceptance number. Re = Rejection number.

SAMPLING PLANS AND OPERATING CHARACTERISTIC (OC) CURVES FOR AQL = 1.0 PERCENT DEFECTIVE (OR AQL = 1.0 DEFECTS PER HUNDRED UNITS)

[Sampling plans—AQL = 1.0]

Identification letter of OC curve

Comparable sampling

J

K, L

M

plans

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

21

0

1

48

1

2

84

2

3

Double

29

0

2

65

1

2

Q

R

S

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

315

6

7

500

9

10

800

13

14

Identification letter of OC curve

Comparable sampling

N

P

plans

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

126

3

4

200

4

5

Double

T

U

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

1250

19

20

2000

28

29

nc = Cumulative sample size. Ac = Acceptance number. Re = Rejection number.

SAMPLING PLANS AND OPERATING CHARACTERISTIC (OC) CURVES FOR AQL = 1.5 PERCENT DEFECTIVE (OR AQL = 1.5 DEFECTS PER HUNDRED UNITS)

[Sampling plans—AQL = 1.5]

Identification letter of OC curve

Comparable sampling

H

J, K

L

plans

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

13

0

1

29

1

2

48

2

3

Double

21

0

2

31

1

2

Identification letter of OC curve

Comparable sampling

M

N

P

plans

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

84

3

4

126

4

5

200

6

7

Double

Identification letter of OC curve

Q

R

S

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

315

8

9

500

12

13

800

18

19

T

U

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

1,250

26

27

2,000

39

40

nc=Cumulative sample size. Ac=Acceptance number. Re=Rejection number.

SAMPLING PLANS AND OPERATING CHARACTERISTIC (OC) CURVES FOR AQL=2.5 PERCENT DEFECTIVE (OR AQL=2.5 DEFECTS PER HUNDRED UNITS)

[Sampling plans—AQL= 2.5]

Identification letter of OC curve

Comparable sampling plans

F

J,K

L

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

9

0

1

29

2

3

48

3

4

Double

21

0

2

31

2

3

Identification letter of OC curve

Comparable sampling plans

M

N

P

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

84

4

5

126

6

7

200

9

10

Double

Identification letter of OC curve

Comparable sampling plans

Q

R

S

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

315

13

14

500

18

19

800

27

28

T

U

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

1,250

41

42

2,000

62

63

nc = Cumulative sample size. Ac = Acceptance number. Re = Rejection number.

SAMPLING PLANS AND OPERATING CHARACTERISTIC (OC) CURVES FOR AQL = 4.0 PERCENT DEFECTIVE (OR AQL = 4.0 DEFECTS PER HUNDRED UNITS)

[Sampling plans—AQL = 4.0]

Identification letter of OC curve

Comparable sampling

D

G

J

plans

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

5

0

1

11

1

2

21

2

3

Double

P

Q

R

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

200

13

14

315

19

20

500

28

29

Identification letter of OC curve

Comparable sampling

K L

M

N

plans

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

48

4

5

84

6

7

126

9

10

Double

29

1

4

65

6

7

S

T

U

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

800

42

43

1250

63

64

2000

96

nc = Cumulative sample size. Ac = Acceptance number. Re = Rejection number.

SAMPLING PLANS AND OPERATING CHARACTERISTIC (OC) CURVES FOR AQL = 5.0 PERCENT DEFECTIVE (OR AQL = 5.0 DEFECTS PER HUNDRED UNITS)

[Sampling plans—AQL = 5.0]

Identification letter of OC curve

Comparable sampling

C

F

J, K

plans

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

4

0

1

1

1

2

29

3

4

Double

21

1

4

31

3

4

Identification letter of OC curve

Comparable sampling

L

M

N

plans

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

48

5

6

84

7

8

126

10

11

Double

P

Q

R

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

200

15

16

315

22

23

500

33

34

S

T

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

800

50

51

1250

76

77

nc = Cumulative sample size. Ac = Acceptance number. Re = Rejection number.

SAMPLING PLANS AND OPERATING CHARACTERISTIC (OC) CURVES FOR AQL = 6.5 PERCENT DEFECTIVE (OR AQL = 6.5 DEFECTS PER HUNDRED UNITS)

[Sampling plans—AQL = 6.5]

Identification letter of OC curve

Comparable sampling

B

E

H

plans

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

3

0

1

6

1

2

13

2

3

M

N

P

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

84

9

10

126

13

14

200

19

20

SAMPLING PLANS AND OPERATING CHARACTERISTIC (OC) CURVES FOR AQL = 6.5 PERCENT DEFECTIVE (OR AQL = 6.5 DEFECTS PER HUNDRED UNITS)

[Sampling plans—AQL = 6.5]

Identification letter of OC curve

Comparable sampling

J

K

L

plans

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

21

3

4

29

4

5

48

6

7

Q

R

S

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

315

28

29

500

42

43

800

64

65

nc = Cumulative sample size. Ac = Acceptance number. Re = Rejection number.

SAMPLING PLANS AND OPERATING CHARACTERISTIC (OC) CURVES FOR AQL = 8.5 PERCENT DEFECTIVE (OR AQL = 8.5 DEFECTS PER HUNDRED UNITS)

[Sampling plans—AQL = 8.5]

Identification letter of OC curve

Comparable sampling

D

G

J

plans

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

5

1

2

11

2

3

24

4

5

Double

21

3

5

31

5

6

N

P

Q

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

126

16

17

200

24

25

315

35

36

Identification letter of OC curve

Comparable sampling

K,L

M

plans

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

48

7

8

84

11

1

Double

29

3

7

65

9

10

R

S

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

500

53

54

800

82

83

nc = Cumulative sample size. Ac = Acceptance number. Re = Rejection number.

Sampling Plans and Operating Characteristic (OC) Curves for AQL = 10.0 Percent Defective (or AQL = 10.0 Defects per Hundred Units)

[Sampling plans—AQL = 10.0]

Identification letter of OC curve

Comparable sampling

A

C

F

H

plans

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

2

0

1

4

1

2

9

2

3

13

3

4

Identification letter of OC curve

Comparable sampling

J

K

L

plans

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Single

21

4

5

29

5

6

48

8

9

M

N

P

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

84

13

14

126

18

19

200

27

28

Q

R

S

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

315

41

42

500

62

63

800

95

96

nc = Cumulative sample size. Ac = Acceptance number. Re = Rejection number.

SAMPLING PLANS AND OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS (OC) CURVES FOR AQL = 12.5 PERCENT DEFECTIVE (OR AQL = 12.5 DEFECTS PER HUNDRED UNITS)

[Sampling plans—AQL = 12.5]

Comparable sampling plans

Identification letter

B, EE

G

J

of OC curve

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

7

2

3

11

3

4

21

5

6

Double

3

0

3

8

2

3

Comparable sampling plans

Identification letter

K

L

M

of OC curve

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

29

6

7

48

10

11

84

15

16

Double

N

P

Q

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

126

22

23

200

33

34

315

50

51

R

S

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

500

76

77

800

117

118

nc = Cumulative sample size. Ac = Acceptance number. Re = Rejection number.

Sampling Plans and Operating Characteristic (OC) Curves for AQL = 15.0 Percent Defective (or AQL = 15.0 Defects per Hundred Units)

[Sampling plans—AQL = 15.0]

Identification letter of OC curve

Comparable sampling

AA

B

E

F

plans

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

1

0

1

3

1

2

6

2

3

9

3

4

L

M

N

P

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

48

11

12

84

18

19

126

26

27

200

39

40

Identification letter of OC curve

Comparable sampling

H

J

K

plans

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

13

4

5

21

6

7

29

7

8

Q

R

S

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

nc

Ac

Re

Single

315

59

60

500

90

91

800

140

141

nc = Cumulative sample size. Ac = Acceptance number. Re = Rejection number.

 1

 Includes matters within the responsibility of the Federal Grain Inspection Service.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Code of Federal Regulations Title 7. Agriculture § 7.43.106 Choosing AQL's and sampling plans - last updated October 03, 2022 | https://codes.findlaw.com/cfr/title-7-agriculture/cfr-sect-7-43-106.html

Read this complete Code of Federal Regulations Title 7. Agriculture § 7.43.106 Choosing AQL's and sampling plans on Westlaw

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