ASTM E2334-09(2023) PDF

ABSTRACT This practice presents methodology for the setting of an upper confidence bound regarding an unknown fraction or quantity non-conforming, or a rate of occurrence for nonconformities, in cases where the method of attributes is used and there is a zero response in a sample. Three cases are considered. In Case 1, the sample is selected from a process or a very large population of interest. In Case 2, a sample of n items is selected at random from a finite lot of N items. In Case 3, there is a process, but the output is a continuum, such as area (for example, a roll of paper or other material, a field of crop), volume (for example, a volume of liquid or gas), or time (for example, hours, days, quarterly, etc.) The sample size is defined as that portion of the �continuum� sampled, and the defined attribute may occur any number of times over the sampled portion. SIGNIFICANCE AND USE 4.1 In Case 1, the sample is selected from a process or a very large population of interest. The population is essentially unlimited, and each item either has or has not the defined attribute. The population (process) has an unknown fraction of items p (long run average process non-conforming) having the attribute. The sample is a group of n discrete items selected at random from the process or population under consideration, and the attribute is not exhibited in the sample. The objective is to determine an upper confidence bound, pu, for the unknown fraction p whereby one can claim that p ≤ pu with some confidence coefficient (probability) C. The binomial distribution is the sampling distribution in this case. 4.2 In Case 2, a sample of n items is selected at random from a finite lot of N items. Like Case 1, each item either has or has not the defined attribute, and the population has an unknown number, D, of items having the attribute. The sample does not exhibit the attribute. The objective is to determine an upper confidence bound, Du, for the unknown number D, whereby one can claim that D ≤ Du with some confidence coefficient (probability) C. The hypergeometric distribution is the sampling distribution in this case. 4.3 In Case 3, there is a process, but the output is a continuum, such as area (for example, a roll of paper or other material, a field of crop), volume (for example, a volume of liquid or gas), or time (for example, hours, days, quarterly, etc.) The sample size is defined as that portion of the “continuum” sampled, and the defined attribute may occur any number of times over the sampled portion. There is an unknown average rate of occurrence, λ, for the defined attribute over the sampled interval of the continuum that is of interest. The sample does not exhibit the attribute. For a roll of paper, this might be blemishes per 100 ft2; for a volume of liquid, microbes per cubic litre; for a field of crop, spores per acre; for a time interval, ca... SCOPE 1.1 This practice presents methodology for the setting of an upper confidence bound regarding a unknown fraction or quantity non-conforming, or a rate of occurrence for nonconformities, in cases where the method of attributes is used and there is a zero response in a sample. Three cases are considered. 1.1.1 The sample is selected from a process or a very large population of discrete items, and the number of non-conforming items in the sample is zero. 1.1.2 A sample of items is selected at random from a finite lot of discrete items, and the number of non-conforming items in the sample is zero. 1.1.3 The sample is a portion of a continuum (time, space, volume, area, etc.) and the number of non-conformities in the sample is zero. 1.2 Allowance is made for misclassification error in this practice, but only when misclassification rates are well understood or known and can be approximated numerically. 1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard. 1.4 This ...