What is Acceptable Quality Level(AQL) ?

AQL – Accepted Quality Level :

Accepted Quality Level (AQL) is a quality control tool for inspection of products. As earlier mentioned, products (in this case jeans) can be inspected in several different ways. For evaluations, tests or other types of comparisons, AQL is a good tool to control how well the products stand in relation to the quality requirements. The AQL will tell the amount of products that should be inspected and how many defects that are accepted, rather than dictating what tests should be made. Based on the AQL, randomised inspections are made, which gives the company a result that indicates the status for a majority of the products.

The amount of products that will get inspected and how many faults that are accepted are determined by a combination of the AQL-level, the inspection level and the size of the order. Each company chooses what levels they want to work with. An AQL of 1,5 will not accept faults in more than 1,5 % of the inspected lot. There are three inspection levels; I, II and III. Inspection level II is most commonly used, but at less comprehensive inspections level I is used, and at more comprehensive inspections level III is used.



Defects are classified by their severity; minor, major or critical. Three minor defects are equal to one major defect. If the amount of defected products in the inspected lot exceeds the AQL, the order should be rejected, otherwise it can be accepted .