AQL Inspection Guide: Understanding AQL 2.5

Learn how AQL inspection standards work and how to apply them to your product quality control.

What is AQL?

AQL (Acceptable Quality Level) is a statistical method used in quality control to determine the maximum number of defective items that is considered acceptable in a sample size. It is a key standard used by inspection companies worldwide.

AQL 2.5 Explained

AQL 2.5 is commonly used for major defects in general merchandise. This means that if a sample of 200 items has 10 defects, the lot would be rejected because 10 defects exceeds the acceptance number for AQL 2.5 at sample size 200.

Standard AQL Levels

• Critical Defects: AQL 0 - Zero tolerance for defects that could cause safety issues
• Major Defects: AQL 2.5 - Defects that could affect usability or saleability
• Minor Defects: AQL 4.0 - Small defects that do not significantly impact the product

How to Use AQL Tables

AQL tables are used to determine the sample size and acceptance/rejection numbers based on your lot size and inspection level. The most common is General Inspection Level II.