TOLERANCES IN STANDARDS AND SPECIFICATIONS

THERE IS CONFUSION ABOUT WHAT A TOLERANCE REALLY MEANS. IT CAN BE INTERPRETED AS THE ACCEPTABLE QUALITY LEVEL, THE LIMITING QUALITY LEVEL, THE AVERAGE QUALITY LEVEL, OR THE MINIMAL QUALITY FOR EITHER THE LOT OR AN INDIVIDUAL PRODUCT. A WAY OF ILLUSTRATING THESE INTERPRETATIONS IS THROUGH OPERATING CHARACTERISTIC CURVES. THESE CURVES SHOW THE PROBABILITY OF BEING ACCEPTED UNDER DIFFERENT INTERPRETA- TIONS OF TOLERANCE. TO AVOID CONFUSION, LAWS, STANDARDS AND CONTRACTS SHOULD BE MORE SPECIFIC WHEN STATING TOLERANCES, AS THE MEANING OF A TOLERANCE BECOMES CLEAR ONLY WHEN THE SAMPLING PLAN USED TO ENFORCE IT IS SPECIFIED. THE AUTHORS ADVOCATE THAT EDUCATING PEOPLE TO OPERATING CHARACTERISTIC CURVES AND USING THEM MORE WIDELY MIGHT HELP ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM.

• Corporate Authors:

  Quality Progress

  ,    
• Authors:
  • Bartlett, R P
  • Provost, L P
• Publication Date: 1973-12

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 14-9
• Serial:
  • Volume: 6 N
  • Issue Number: 2

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Curves (Geometry); Engineering tolerance; Quality control; Statistical analysis; Statistical quality control; Statistical sampling
• Uncontrolled Terms: Interpretation
• Old TRIS Terms: Tolerances
• Subject Areas: Construction; Data and Information Technology; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00215690
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 22 1974 12:00AM