TS ISO 2859-3

TS ISO 2859-3 addresses skip-lot sampling procedures used in acceptance inspection by attributes. In practical terms, it provides a framework for reducing inspection effort when a supplier has demonstrated high product quality together with a satisfactory quality assurance system and effective quality controls. The central idea is that not every submitted lot has to be inspected at the same intensity; instead, some lots may be accepted without inspection according to a specified random probability.

How skip-lot sampling works in technical terms

In general technical usage, inspection by attributes means judging conformity with categories such as conforming/nonconforming rather than measuring a continuous value. Skip-lot schemes extend conventional sampling plans from the item level to the lot level. The random-selection principle already used for sample items in ISO 2859-1 is extended here to the random selection of lots. This allows inspection resources to be focused more heavily on lots that need control, while reducing unnecessary effort for suppliers with a stable and reliable quality record.

What this part covers

• Generic skip-lot sampling procedures for acceptance inspection by attributes
• Random selection, with a specified probability, of lots that will be accepted without inspection
• Application to suppliers of high-quality products with satisfactory quality assurance and effective quality controls
• An extension of the random sample-item selection principle in ISO 2859-1 to the selection of lots

For users, the value of this standard is in structuring lot-based acceptance decisions, not in defining product design requirements. It helps connect attribute-based inspection, quality assurance performance, and sampling probability into a controlled approach for reducing inspection effort without abandoning statistical discipline.