Reduced Inspection
Meaning ~ A statistical sampling state that reduces the sample size and inspection costs when a supplier consistently meets the agreed acceptance quality limit
Switching Score
Meaning
Cumulative statistical tallies track supplier inspection results over consecutive production runs to determine when to modify inspection severity tiers. Within ISO 2859-1 quality assurance systems, the switching score provides the exact mathematical trigger for transitioning between normal and reduced inspection regimes. This metric governs inspection status calculations, stopping at the point where a lot rejection resets the tally to zero and restores normal inspection.
Score Calculation
Quality management software adds points to the tally following each successfully passed inspection lot. When calculating the switching score, the system evaluates consecutive lot outcomes against published standard tables. Reaching a score of thirty points demonstrates sufficient manufacturing stability to qualify for reduced inspection parameters.
State Transition
Standard operating procedures compare current tallies against threshold tables to update testing levels automatically. Reaching the target switching score allows buyers to reduce sample sizes by over half, cutting inspection costs and speeding up factory dispatch schedules. A single lot rejection or non-conforming sample invalidates the score immediately.
Commercial Consequence
Purchase contracts incorporate these mathematical tracking rules to govern third-party inspection billing responsibilities. Maintaining a high switching score lowers vendor quality control overhead and expedites factory releases. Unclear agreement terms regarding score resets lead to payment disputes over who pays for return to normal inspection levels.