SUITABILITY OF DIFFERENT ACCEPTANCE SAMPLING TECHNIQUES

Ing. Petr Frank, Doctoral Degree Programme (1) Dept. of Mathematics, FEEC, BUT E-mail: frank@feec.vutbr.cz Supervised by: Dr. Josef Zapletal

ABSTRACT This paper deals with acceptance sampling. It is introduced what acceptance sampling is. Than different acceptance sampling techniques are listed. The principle is illustrated on simple acceptance sampling. In the main part we analyze the advantages and disadvantages on the individual techniques with regard to the different requirements on the final decision of acceptance sampling. 1 INTRODUCTION

In quality control it most important thing is to understand what term quality means. Quality is evaluated with respect to selected requirements. Basic goal of quality control is to determine whether the monitored process or product will fulfil these requirements or not. This decision is very difficult or impossible in the case where we have large amount of tested units and therefore we can not test all of them. This problem is especially big when we use destructive testing. This obstruction can be overcome by using statistical method of quality control. To make decision about meeting our requirements with given amount of product or material, acceptance sampling is a proper tool. 2 ACCEPTANCE SAMPLING

Principle of using acceptance sampling control quality is in the fact that we do not check all units (N), but only selected part (n). Set of N elements is called basic set and set of n elements is so called sampling set or sampling from finite basic set or just sampling or subgroup. This method is used when economic or time requirements for testing all units are too high. However when using this method, not only uncertainty as in all-units testing, but fortuitousness too enter the quality control. Therefore we can decide about supply acceptance only with help of using probability theory and mathematical statistic. However we must understand that the main advantage of acceptance sampling is also its main disadvantage. We must not check all units in the lot, but on the other hand there is a risk,

that final decision about lots comply can be wrong. It is important to know probability of this mistake. We can look on acceptance sampling risk from two opposite sides. It is producer decision risk and customer decision risk. 1) Producer decision risk It is the risk of false reject. Supply is rejected, but in reality, it meets required quality. Probability of this situation is denoted as . 2) Consumer decision risk It is false accept risk. Supply is accepted, but in real, it dont reach required quality. Probability of this situation is denoted as . The goal of both supplier and customer is to minimize the risk. 2.1 TYPES OF ACCEPTANCE SAMPLING

From the above described risks it is obvious that acceptance sampling can yield wrong result, and therefore we must choose proper technique to minimize risk into acceptable area. There are several acceptance sampling techniques. Different approach to the acceptance decision can have influence on final risk of supplier and customer. Therefore it is necessary to have good knowledge about different acceptance sampling methods and about their mathematical principles. Main types of acceptance sampling: 1. Subdivision by method of product conformity assessment a) acceptance sampling for attributes the result is qualitative verdict Does the product conform with requirements or not. b) acceptance sampling for variables the result is quantitative verdict about value of quality parameter. 2. Subdivision by method of sample selection a) single acceptance sampling selection of n elements from N element lot. (n < N) and those n elements will be the ground for quality assessment b) double and more acceptance sampling if the first selection n1 can not confirm reject nor accept of whole lot, we can make next selection n2. It is possible to use n2 > n1. c) sequential acceptance sampling after one unit check we have three possibilities to choose: accept lot, reject lot or proceed to the next unit.

3. Other methods 2.2 acceptance based on experience with product, producer or consumer random check, 100% check other methods that are not a part of international standard, but can be used

EXPLAINING SIMPLE ACCEPTANCE SAMPLING

The simple acceptance sampling proceeds as follows: From the whole lot consisted from N units we choose a selection of n units. In the second step we must check these units, if they satisfy quality requirements. As a result, we get a number of spoiled units d. If this d is greater than the acceptance number Ac, then the lot will be rejected, otherwise the lot will be accepted. Pair n and Ac is so called sampling plan. Sampling plan is determined from know values AQL, , RQL, with help of tabled values or by enumeration. The use of and was explained above. To explain terms AQL (acceptable quality level) and RQL (rejectable quality level) a graph of operating characteristic curve will be helpful. That is show in figure 1.

Fig. 1:

Operating characteristic curve

In figure 1 the dependence between proportion of noncorforming items in the lot and probability of not rejecting the lot is displayed. Producer risk is probability that we reject lot with very low volume of spoiled work. Point AQL is quality level, which is boundary value of proportion of nonconforming items in the lot. Setting this value does not mean that producer has right to knowingly supply a noncorforming product. RQL is on the other hand accord with consumer's risk . In the simple according the important parameter is the probability of accepting (Pa) the lot with specific quotient of spoiled work p = D / N with given values of c and n. This probability is formulated in equation (1). (with presumption of binomial distribution p in separate lots)

Pa = P( x c ) = P( x )
x =0

(1)

,where P(x) is

D N D x n x P( x ) = N n

(2)

with rate N / n being bigger than 10, we can replace binomial distribution with Poisson distribution (3).

(np )x e (np ) P(x ) =

x!

(3)

Equation (1) or (3) respectively is basic characteristic of acceptance sampling so called operating characteristic (Fig. 1) Other methods as can be discussed and described too, but this is not the aim of this paper. This detailed information e.g. can be found in [1]. For purpose of acceptance sampling explaining the above described simple acceptance sampling method is sufficient.
3 ADVANTAGES, DISADVANTAGES AND SUITABILITY OF DIFFERENT ACCEPTANCE SAMPLING TECHNIQUES

Acceptance sampling has generally some advantages and disadvantages. Advantage is that acceptance sampling provides us with a great instrument of quality control in different stages of production process and helps to ensure proper quality definition and measuring in relation between producer and customer. Disadvantage is time and money consuming, which can be in final result turn into savings, but sometimes not. Suitability of different acceptance sampling varies and is dependent on facts what we will acceptance and for what purpose. I have analyzed techniques listed in part 2.1 and I came to following rating:
acceptance sampling for attributes

+ simple method, can be quick with using gauge. It is independent of distribution. - can not recognize more-parameter correlated properties of product which is important when we acceptant e.g. electrotechnic materials
acceptance sampling for variables

+ we need fewer samples to make decision about acceptance, can provide more information about the lot, e.g. information about stability of production process or its bias. - It is more technologically exigent, and there can be some difficulties with proper usage.
single acceptance sampling

+ one-step method, very simple - bigger risk

double and more acceptance sampling

+ reduced risk - can be more time- and money-consuming

sequential acceptance sampling

+ average reducing of tested samples count with preservation of risks. Can be processed numerically and graphically sometimes the number of samples needed can be larger, we cant foresee this
random check

+ low costs, timesaving - very uncertain, therefore not recommended

100% check

+ good guarantee, which depends only on confidence of conformity assessment. 100% check acceptance is sometime necessary, especially in critical nonconformity tests. - very money and time consuming
4 CONCLUSION

In this paper we presented that using acceptance sampling means in first of all a proper study of each of the possible techniques and of our acceptance problem, because different techniques have different results in the sense, that suitability of the final acceptance decision varies although it can only be true or false.
REFERENCES

[1] Tmov, O.: Diagnostika a zen jakosti, ISBN 80-7082-368-2, Plze 1997 [2] aludov, A., Sedlek, J.: Statistick kontrola jakosti ve slvrnch, Praha 1958 [3] or, J., B.: Statistick metody analzy a kontroly jakosti a spolehlivosti, 1965 [4] ISO 2859-1:1999. Sampling procedures for inspection by attributes