AQL Sampling Explained
A practical guide to AQL sampling, acceptance limits, and what pass/fail means for your shipment.
AQL sampling gives buyers a statistical view of batch quality without inspecting every unit.
Why AQL matters
Sampling protects budgets and timelines while still delivering reliable quality decisions.
How acceptance limits work
AQL sets acceptable defect thresholds by severity so you can align risk tolerance to product type.
Step-by-step
- - Define defect classification (critical, major, minor).
- - Select the inspection level and AQL limit.
- - Inspect random samples and compare results to acceptance numbers.
Checklist preview
- - Agreed sampling level and AQL limit
- - Approved product specs and defect glossary
- - Clear pass/fail authority
Key takeaways
- - AQL is a sampling method, not a guarantee of zero defects.
- - Defect definitions must be agreed before inspection.
- - Sampling plans should match production risk.