Aql sampling table iso 2859
A practical guide to aql sampling table iso 2859: what to check on site, what a photograph cannot establish, and what to write in your purchase specification.
AQL is the sampling rule that decides whether a batch passes or fails. It is not a quality target. That distinction is where most confusion comes from.
What AQL actually is
Acceptable Quality Limit. Under ISO 2859-1, it is the quality level that, for purposes of lot acceptance, can be considered tolerable.
It is an input to a decision, not a statement about how good the goods are. An AQL of 2.5 on major defects does not mean 2.5 per cent of the goods are defective. It is a threshold in a probability model.
The table that matters
Under ISO 2859-1 general level II, single sampling:
| Lot size | Sample size | Critical Ac/Re | Major Ac/Re | Minor Ac/Re |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 281–500 | 50 | 0/1 | 3/4 | 5/6 |
| 501–1,200 | 80 | 0/1 | 5/6 | 7/8 |
| 1,201–3,200 | 125 | 0/1 | 7/8 | 10/11 |
| 3,201–10,000 | 200 | 0/1 | 10/11 | 14/15 |
| 10,001–35,000 | 315 | 0/1 | 14/15 | 21/22 |
Ac is the accept number: at or below it, the lot passes. Re is the reject number: at or above it, the lot fails.
AQL calculator gives the full table with adjustable inspection levels.
Severity is assigned before sampling
| Class | AQL | Furniture examples |
|---|---|---|
| Critical | 0 | Uncertified gas lift, wrong wood species claimed, sharp edge, missing structural fastener |
| Major | 1.0–2.5 | Wobble beyond tolerance, dimension outside the agreed figure, leg strength failure, colour batch split |
| Minor | 4.0 | Surface scratch, minor colour variation, loose thread |
The four numbers a report must carry
Lot size, sample size, and the accept and reject numbers for each class. A report without those four cannot support a supplier dispute or an insurance claim, because the conclusion cannot be reconstructed.
AQL calculator sets out what a report records and what it admits it could not verify.
Common questions
Can I verify goods without sending anyone to the factory?
Partially. A remote photo review can identify gross problems but cannot establish count, dimensions, materials or physical performance. Those require someone on site.
Do laboratory reports replace on-site inspection?
No. They answer different questions. A laboratory report tells you whether a product meets a standard. An inspection tells you whether these goods match what you ordered.
What should my purchase specification contain?
Model and quantity, dimensions with tolerance, materials named rather than described generically, colour standard with a grey scale value, and any standard the goods must meet.
Verifying a furniture order?
We check your goods at the factory against your PI, your agreed specification and your approved sample. Three levels, published prices, report within 24 hours.