Improving Quality By Using Acceptance Sampling

By Patty Goff


Numerous questions have been fronted on the ways organizations designs and implements strategies to ensure that its products are compliant with the set standards. This is often done by most organizations through checking inputs. Information obtained is further compared with their own set quality standards and generated information is used for certificate analysis. This is significant in either accepting or rejecting the shipment. The usage of acceptance sampling as fronted by MIL STD is often implemented in most organizations.

Other organizations might also prefer the use of modern sampling procedures fronted by ANSI (American National Standards Institute) and ASQ (American Society for Quality). Regardless of the approach utilized, most quality assurance professional asserts that appropriate method should aims at minimizing inspection costs, preventing the entry of low quality materials from the organization production process and risk management.

As proposed by most quality professionals, this strategy of sampling is viewed as an inspection tool. They also argue that expansion of inspection resources by the organization will positively impact on the production by inspecting critical materials received. For instance, organizations that do not consider the importance of investing on inspections of inputs might end up producing low quality goods. This conditions with subject the corporate to situations where they just hope that their products will be able to meet their set standards.

This occupies a middle ground between hundred percent and no inspection. These approaches have been credited as just another set of inspection tool. I the pasts most quality professionals have argued against sampling approach as unworthy of association with quality improvement tools as compared to statistical approaches and accept or reject conclusions. Such assertions were believed to be true. However, recent studies have indicated that such approaches are more effective and efficient in improving quality.

For instance, imagine a situation where inspector use such strategy in checking incoming materials or products but assume that they have save data used for making the reject or accept conclusion. The real fault codes and reason for failure might not be noted along with the manufactured goods code, dealer name lot number as well as other important traceability element linked with the shipment if the inspector performs checks by ANSI or ASQ Z1.4.

Through this, it is possible to access important data from the product, supplier and indicating traceability elements. Research also suggests that this quality information can only be achieved through sampling approach. This information can further be analyzed using Pareto charts, control charts, histograms, and statistical analysis through analyzing the data obtained from inspection.

Such critical information can be used to compare the defects between products supplied by different suppliers. A confirmation of lack of control or control by the supplier on the production process can also be made. Vendors can be able to improve the quality of supplied products and manufacturing processes through collaborating with the suppliers.

This approach serves as a compliment strategy for improvement of quality using the accept or reject conclusions. Previously, unknown vendors could just quantify their products and such information used in cost reduction in the supply chain and quality improvement. Alternatively, it can be done at a little or no cost to organizations which have already implemented the use of ANSI/ASQ measures.




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