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7 CFR 43.106 - Choosing AQL's and sampling plans.

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§ 43.106 Choosing AQL's and sampling plans.

(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.

(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 Plans ¹**
Sample size code letter	Sample size	Acceptable quality levels
		0.065	0.10	0.15	0.25	0.40	0.65	1.0	1.5	2.5	4.0	5.0	6.5	8.5	10.0	12.5	15.0
		Ac Re	Ac Re	Ac Re	Ac Re	Ac Re	Ac Re	Ac Re	Ac Re	Ac Re	Ac Re	Ac Re	Ac Re	Ac Re	Ac Re	Ac Re	Ac Re
¹ Double plans are indicated by 2 sample sizes, n1 (first) and nt (total).Ac=Acceptance numberRe=Rejection number.
AA	n1=1																01
A	n1=2														01
B	n1=3												01			03	12
	nt=8															23
C	n1=4											01			12
D	n1=5										01			12
E	n1=6												12				23
EE	n1=7															23
F	n1=9									01		12			23		34
G	n1=11										12			23		34
H	n1=13								01				23		34		45
J	n1=21							01	02	02	23	14	34	35	45	56	67
	nt=31								12	23		34		56
K	n1=29						01	02	12	23	14	34	45	37	56	67	78
	nt=65							12			67			9 10
L	n1=48					01	02	12	23	34	45	56	67	78	89	10 11	11 12
	nt=72						12
M	n1=84				01	02	03	23	34	45	67	78	9 10	11 12	13 14	15 16	18 19
	nt=120					12
	nt=132						23
N	n1=126			01	02	03	23	34	45	67	9 10	10 11	13 14	16 17	18 19	22 23	26 27
	nt=180				12
	nt=210					23
P	n1=200		01	02	03	23	34	45	67	9 10	13 14	15 16	19 20	24 25	27 28	33 34	39 40
	nt=284			12
	nt=326				23
Q	n1=315	01	02	0	23	34	45	67	89	13 14	19 20	22 23	28 29	35 36	41 42	50 51	59 60
	nt=435		12
	nt=519			23
R	n1=500	02	03	23	34	45	67	9 10	12 13	18 19	28 29	33 34	42 43	53 54	62 63	76 77	90 91
	nt=644	12
	nt=836		23
S	n1=800	03	23	34	45	67	9 10	13 14	18 19	27 28	42 43	50 510	64 65	82 83	95 96	117 118	140 141
	nt=1304	23
T	n1=1250	23	34	45	67	9 10	13 14	19 20	26 27	41 42	63 64	76 77
U	n1=2000	34	45	67	9 10	13 14	19 20	28 29	39 40	62 63	96 97

**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]
Comparable sampling plans	Identification letter of OC curve
	Q			R			S, T			U
	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re
nc=Cumulative sample size.Ac=Acceptance number.Re=Rejection number.
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

**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]
Comparable sampling plans	Identification letter of OC curve
	P			Q			R, S			T			U
	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re
nc=Cumulative sample size.Ac=Acceptance number.Re=Rejection number.
Single	200	0	1	408	1	2	800	2	3	1,250	3	4	2,000	4
Double				315	0	2	500	0	3
				435	1	2	836	2	3

**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]
Comparable sampling plans	Identification letter of OC curve
	N			P			Q			R, S			T			U
	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re
nc=Cumulative sample size.Ac=Acceptance number.Re=Rejection number.
Single	126	0	1	264	1	2	500	2	3	800	3	4	1,250	4	5	2,000	6	7
Double				200	0	2	315	0	3
				284	1	2	519	2	3

**Sampling Plans and Operating Characteristic (OC) Curves for AQL=0.25 Defects per Hundred Units**

[Sampling plans—AQL=0.25]
Comparable sampling plans	Identification letter of OC curve
	M			N			P, Q			R			S			T			U
	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re
nc=Cumulative sample size.Ac=Acceptance number.Re=Rejection number.
Single	84	0	1	168	1	2	315	2	3	500	3	4	800	4	5	1250	6	7	2000	9	10
Double				126	0	2	200	0	3
				180	1	2	326	2	3

**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]
Comparable sampling plans	Identification letter of OC curve
	L			M			N, P			Q			R			S			T			U
	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re
nc=Cumulative sample size.Ac=Acceptance number.Re=Rejection number.
Single	48	0	1	108	1	2	200	2	3	315	3	4	500	4	5	800	6	7	1250	9	10	2000	13	10
Double				84	0	2	126	0	3
				120	1	2	210	2	3

**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]
Comparable sampling plans	Identification letter of OC curve
	K			L			M, N			P			Q			R			S			T			U
	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re
nc=Cumulative sample size.Ac=Acceptance number.Re=Rejection number.
Single	29	0	1	66	1	2	126	2	3	200	3	4	315	4	5	500	6	7	800	9	10	1250	13	14	2000	19	20
Double				48	0	2	84	0	3
				72	1	2	132	2	3

**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]
Comparable sampling plans	Identification letter of OC curve
	J			K, L			M			N			P
	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re
Single	21	0	1	48	1	2	84	2	3	126	3	4	200	4	5
Double				29	0	2
				65	1	2


	Q			R			S			T			U
	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re
nc=Cumulative sample size.Ac=Acceptance number.Re=Rejection number.
Single	315	6	7	500	9	10	800	13	14	1250	19	20	2000	28	29

**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]
Comparable sampling plans	Identification letter of OC curve
	H			J, K			L			M			N			P
	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re
Single	13	0	1	29	1	2	48	2	3	84	3	4	126	4	5	200	6	7
Double				21	0	2
				31	1	2


	Q			R			S			T			U
	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re
nc=Cumulative sample size.Ac=Acceptance number.Re=Rejection number.
Single	315	8	9	500	12	13	800	18	19	1,250	26	27	2,000	39	40

**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]
Comparable sampling plans	Identification letter of OC curve
	F			J, K			L			M			N			P
	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re
Single	9	0	1	29	2	3	48	3	4	84	4	5	126	6	7	200	9	10
Double				21	0	2
				31	2	3


	Q			R			S			T			U
	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re
nc=Cumulative sample size.Ac=Acceptance number.Re=Rejection number.
Single	315	13	14	500	18	19	800	27	28	1,250	41	42	2,000	62	63

**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]
Comparable sampling plans	Identification letter of OC curve
	D			G			J			K L			M			N
	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re
Single	5	0	1	11	1	2	21	2	3	48	4	5	84	6	7	126	9	10
Double										29	1	4
										65	6	7


	P			Q			R			S			T			U
	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re
nc=Cumulative sample size.Ac=Acceptance number.Re=Rejection number.
Single	200	13	14	315	19	20	500	28	29	800	42	43	1250	63	64	2000	96

**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]
Comparable sampling plans	Identification letter of OC curve
	C			F			J, K			L			M			N
	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re
Single	4	0	1	1	1	2	29	3	4	48	5	6	84	7	8	126	10	11
Double							21	1	4
							31	3	4


	P			Q			R			S			T
	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re
nc=Cumulative sample size.Ac=Acceptance number.Re=Rejection number.
Single	200	15	16	315	22	23	500	33	34	800	50	51	1250	76	77

**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]
Comparable sampling plans	Identification letter of OC curve
	B			E			H			J			K			L
	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re
Single	3	0	1	6	1	2	13	2	3	21	3	4	29	4	5	48	6	7


	M			N			P			Q			R			S
	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re
nc=Cumulative sample size.Ac=Acceptance number.Re=Rejection number.
Single	84	9	10	126	13	14	200	19	20	315	28	29	500	42	43	800	64	65

**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]
Comparable sampling plans	Identification letter of OC curve
	D			G			J			K, L			M
	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re
Single	5	1	2	11	2	3	24	4	5	48	7	8	84	11	1
Double							21	3	5	29	3	7
							31	5	6	65	9	10


	N			P			Q			R			S
	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re
nc=Cumulative sample size.Ac=Acceptance number.Re=Rejection number.
Single	126	16	17	200	24	25	315	35	36	500	53	54	800	82	83

**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]
Comparable sampling plans	Identification letter of OC curve
	A			C			F			H			J			K			L
	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	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	21	4	5	29	5	6	48	8	9


	M			N			P			Q			R			S
	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re
nc=Cumulative sample size.Ac=Acceptance number.Re=Rejection number.
Single	84	13	14	126	18	19	200	27	28	315	41	42	500	62	63	800	95	96

**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]
Identification letter of OC curve	Comparable sampling plans
	B, EE			G			J			K			L			M
	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re
Single	7	2	3	11	3	4	21	5	6	29	6	7	48	10	11	84	15	16
Double	3	0	3
	8	2	3


	N			P			Q			R			S
	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re
nc=Cumulative sample size.Ac=Acceptance number.Re=Rejection number.
Single	126	22	23	200	33	34	315	50	51	500	76	77	800	117	118

**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]
Comparable sampling plans	Identification letter of OC curve
	AA			B			E			F			H			J			K
	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	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	13	4	5	21	6	7	29	7	8


	L			M			N			P			Q			R			S
	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re	nc	Ac	Re
nc=Cumulative sample size.Ac=Acceptance number.Re=Rejection number.
Single	48	11	12	84	18	19	126	26	27	200	39	40	315	59	60	500	90	91	800	140	141

Title 7 published on 2012-01-01

no entries appear in the Federal Register after this date.

This is a list of United States Code sections, Statutes at Large, Public Laws, and Presidential Documents, which provide rulemaking authority for this CFR Part.

This list is taken from the Parallel Table of Authorities and Rules provided by GPO [Government Printing Office].

It is not guaranteed to be accurate or up-to-date, though we do refresh the database weekly. More limitations on accuracy are described at the GPO site.

United States Code

USC : Title 7 - AGRICULTURE

§ 1622 - Duties of Secretary relating to agricultural products

§ 1624 - Cooperation with Government and State agencies, private research organizations, etc.; rules and regulations

7 CFR 43.106 - Choosing AQL's and sampling plans.

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