As was pointed out earlier, a single "item" could have more than 1 defect. For example, the "item" might be a crate of apples. If it acceptable to have 2 bad apples in the crate, then AQL would be 200, i.e. two defects per item.
Or the "item" might be the paint job on an appliance. If you can live with 4 minor flaws in the paint, then the AQL would be 400.
Tim F
Thanks.
Even the definition in Single Sample plan & Double Sampling plan says defectives. MIL STD 105 E Page 16: Sections 4.10.1.1, 4.10.1.2
The table title does not say this explicitly.
Example: Table II A, II B, II C, III A, III B, III C.
Example Table VI A Limiting Quality – Says explicitly Percent defective.
This is what got me thinking.
While the AQL % in the table from 100 to 1000% suggests otherwise.
Your explanation & previous contributor (Al) replies the question.
Regards,
Govind.
Note: I also concurrently asked this question to a Sampling expert Dr. Wayne Taylor (
www.variation.com)
His reply:
"The tables are for both defectives and defects. Table X is most revealing. When you look in the table at the column headers, AQLs above 10% are always labeled defects. For AQLs of 10% and below, there may be columns labeled both defectives and defects.
The tables can be used for all AQLs when reporting defects. When defectives are reported, only AQLs of 10% and below should be used".