01 LOT SAMPLING & ACCEPTANCE EVIDENCE
Packaging film lot sampling: separate AQL, inspection level and release decisions
A sample result is not a lot decision until the buyer fixes what population is being judged, how units are selected, which characteristic and method apply, which sampling system and edition govern, and who owns acceptance and disposition. Keep continuing-lot AQL schemes, isolated-lot LQ plans, variables sampling and estimation work in separate evidence records.
02 DECISION FRAME
The sampling purpose and lot relationship must be chosen before a plan
ISO 28590:2017 provides selection context for the ISO 2859 attribute-sampling series. ISO 2859-1:2026 addresses continuing lot-by-lot attribute inspection indexed by AQL, while ISO 2859-2:2020 addresses isolated or short-series lots indexed by LQ. ISO 3951-1:2022 provides a variables route only within its stated conditions for a continuing series, one measurable characteristic and a controlled distribution and specification basis. ASTM E105-21 and E122-17(2022) keep probability selection and estimation objectives separate from an automatic acceptance plan. The buyer must name the purpose and current licensed route instead of borrowing a table from an unrelated inspection context.
- A converter defining first-order or repeat-order incoming inspection for film or aluminium foil rolls
- A buyer deciding whether a continuing supply stream, isolated shipment or short series needs a different acceptance route
- A quality team separating attribute defect counts, variable measurements, estimation and contractual lot disposition
- That AQL is a permitted defect percentage, a per-lot guarantee or a substitute for an agreed specification
- That one sample size, inspection level, acceptance number or switching state applies to every film, foil, supplier or lot
- That a sampled lot decision proves every unit defect-free, future supply stable or the material compliant for its intended use
03 COMPARISON MAP
Keep purpose, population, selection, method, plan and disposition in one controlled record
Use the current licensed standard and buyer-controlled quality agreement. These rows define decision fields only; they provide no sampling table, formula or default value.
Swipe or scroll horizontally to review every evidence column.
| Decision record | What must be fixed | Evidence to retain | Invalid shortcut |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sampling purpose | Lot acceptance, quality estimation, process monitoring or assessment of a declared quality level | Decision question, responsible owner, applicable contract or quality agreement and intended action | Using one sample to answer acceptance, estimation, audit and process-control questions at once |
| Lot relationship | Continuing series, isolated lot, unique lot, short series, resubmitted lot or product stream | Supplier, site, process, grade, time window, lot formation and prior inspection history | Applying continuing-lot switching rules to an isolated shipment without review |
| Sampling unit and frame | Pallet, roll, reel, specimen, unit area, web position or measurement point plus the complete selectable population | Lot size, frame, selection time, randomization record and any approved stratification | Calling convenient edge cuts or the first accessible roll a random lot sample |
| Attributes or variables | Counted conforming status or nonconformities versus one continuously measured characteristic | Classification rule or numeric specification, data form, method and stated applicability conditions | Treating a measured average, a nonconforming roll count and a defect-event count as interchangeable |
| Characteristic and test basis | Exact defect class or property, specification revision, method, specimen, direction, side and conditioning | Controlled taxonomy, test report, instrument or laboratory context, raw observations and traceability | Selecting a sampling plan before the inspected characteristic and measurement system are controlled |
| Plan index and risk ownership | Applicable AQL, LQ, estimation precision or another approved index and the buyer and supplier risk owners | Standard and edition, rationale, approval record and licensed plan reference | Presenting an AQL as the maximum defects allowed in each delivered lot |
| Inspection state | Inspection level, plan type and any normal, tightened, reduced, skip-lot or other applicable state | Qualifying history, switching record, authorized decision and effective date | Changing inspection state because one result looks favorable or inspection cost is high |
| Result and disposition | Actual units selected, observations, calculation or classification record and accept, hold, reject, concession, reinspection or resubmission route | Signed inspection record, deviation, retained evidence, material control and final decision owner | Calling a statistical plan result universal product approval or evidence of regulatory compliance |
04 SELECTION SEQUENCE
Move from a broad comparison to an approvable decision.
Freeze the lot and sampling purpose
Identify the exact supplier, site, process, grade, lot relationship and decision. Separate acceptance, estimation, monitoring and declared-quality assessment before choosing a standard.
Select the applicable evidence route
Choose attributes or variables, continuing or isolated-lot treatment, sampling unit, random frame, method and current licensed standard with the responsible quality owner.
Pre-agree the result and material path
Record who may accept, hold, reject, grant a concession, reinspect or authorize resubmission. Preserve every exception and change trigger with the lot record.
05 RFQ INPUTS
Packaging-film lot sampling and acceptance-plan RFQ checklist
Use exactly these fields to request or agree a plan. Every index, sample size, acceptance number and disposition remains buyer-, supplier- and quality-owner-controlled under the current licensed document.
Open the RFQ brief builder ↗- 01
Buyer project, packed product, application, destination market and the quality or release decision owner
- 02
Supplier, producing legal entity and site, exact material family, grade, specification revision, purchase order and delivery
- 03
Lot definition: process, production period, batch, pallet, roll, reel, quantity and traceability boundaries
- 04
Lot relationship: continuing series, isolated lot, unique lot, short series, resubmitted lot or product stream
- 05
Sampling purpose: lot acceptance, quality estimation, process monitoring or declared-quality assessment
- 06
Sampling unit: pallet, roll, reel, specimen, unit length or area, web position or measurement point
- 07
Sampling frame, lot size, selectable-unit list, sampling time and access constraints
- 08
Randomization or approved stratification across pallets, rolls, master rolls, width, length, MD, TD and working side
- 09
Inspection route: attributes or variables, with the controlled reason and applicability conditions
- 10
Quality characteristic, defect taxonomy, severity class, conforming rule or nonconformity counting basis
- 11
Buyer specification, revision, limit or class definition and the responsible specification owner
- 12
Test method and edition, specimen state, conditioning, direction, side, instrument or laboratory and reporting unit
- 13
Sampling standard and edition, selected system and the quality owner who approved its applicability
- 14
AQL, LQ, estimation precision or other approved index plus buyer and supplier risk ownership
- 15
Inspection level, single, double or multiple plan type, inspection state and qualifying history where applicable
- 16
Licensed-plan sample size and acceptance or rejection numbers, verifier, approval date and controlled reference
- 17
Actual sampled units, raw results, nonconforming items or nonconformities, rounding rule and inspection record
- 18
Accept, hold, reject, concession, reinspection, resubmission, complaint, retain-sample and requalification route
06 EVIDENCE BOUNDARY
A sampling-plan reference is not a LayerSource inspection or quality guarantee
ISO 28590:2017 remains current after confirmation in 2024 and supports selecting among attribute-sampling situations. ISO 2859-1:2026 is the current third edition for continuing lot-by-lot attribute schemes and replaces the withdrawn 1999 edition and its amendments. ISO 2859-2:2020 remains published for isolated and short-series lots but its ISO page records the close of systematic review, so its status must be rechecked before use. ISO 3951-1:2022 applies a variables route only under its stated process, distribution, characteristic and specification conditions. ISO 2859-4:2020 remains published with review status and expressly separates declared-quality assessment from lot acceptance. ASTM E105-21 addresses probability-sampling principles; ASTM E122-17(2022) addresses sample size for estimation with stated precision; ASTM E29-22 addresses significant digits only when an applicable document invokes it and identifies the method; and ASTM E2234-09(2023) is an active attributes/AQL practice whose use does not replace contractual customer acceptance. This page reproduces no paid table, formula, sample-size calculation, acceptance or rejection number, switching rule or step-by-step procedure. It supplies no fixed AQL, LQ, percentage, risk probability, inspection level, defect class, sample size, limit, frequency, tolerance, retest rule, pass/fail rule or disposition. It establishes no LayerSource sampling plan, inspection, test, audit, laboratory, quality system, lot result, certification, compliance, manufacturing or supply capability. The buyer, supplier, converter and responsible quality owner must approve the exact lot, frame, method, current licensed plan, risk basis, result and contractual disposition.
07 BUYER QUESTIONS
Resolve the assumptions that make quotes diverge.
01Is AQL the maximum defect percentage allowed in each lot?+
No. It indexes a sampling scheme within its applicable context; it is not a permission to supply defects, a per-lot cap or a guarantee. Record the controlled standard, inspection state, risk owners and contractual disposition separately.
02Can ISO 2859-1 be used automatically for one isolated shipment?+
Not automatically. First decide whether the lot is part of a continuing series with applicable switching history. ISO 2859-2 addresses isolated and short-series situations; the responsible quality owner must select the current licensed route.
03When is variables sampling different from attributes sampling?+
Attributes inspection classifies items or counts nonconformities. Variables inspection uses measured values and has additional assumptions and applicability conditions. Do not convert a defect-event count or visual class into a variables result.
04Can a supplier choose the sample size from a public AQL chart?+
The buyer and supplier should use the applicable current licensed standard and controlled quality agreement. This guide provides no table or default and does not validate third-party calculators or copied charts.
05Does accepting the sample prove every roll in the lot conforms?+
No. A sampling-plan decision carries defined statistical risks and applies only to the identified lot, characteristic, method, plan and disposition. It does not certify every unit or future production.
06Does an accepted lot prove regulatory or application compliance?+
No. Food contact, recyclability, recycled content, barrier, sealing, mechanical performance and other application decisions retain their own evidence and responsible owners. Sampling does not create a missing specification or compliance conclusion.