Designing and construction of tightened-normal-tightened variables sampling scheme

The tightened-normal-tightened (TNT) attributes sampling scheme was devised by Calvin (1977). In this paper, a TNT Scheme with variables sampling plan as the reference plan, designated as TNTVSS (n_σ; k_T, k_N) is introduced, where n_σ is the sample size under the reference plan, and k_T and k_N are the acceptance constants corresponding to tightened and normal plans respectively. The behaviour of OC curves of the TNTVSS (n_σ; k_T, k_N) is studied. The efficiency of TNTVSS (n_σ; k_T, k_N) with respect to smaller sample sizes has been established over the attributes scheme. The TNTVSS is matched with the TNT (n; c_N, c_T) of Vijayaraghavan and Soundararajan (1996), for the specified points on the OC curves, namely (p₁, α) and (p₂, β) and it is shown that the sample size of the variables scheme is much smaller than that of the attributes scheme. The TNT scheme with an unknown σ variables plan as the reference plan is also introduced along with the procedure of selection of the parameters. The method of designing the scheme based on the given AQL (Acceptable Quality level), α (producer's risk), LQL (Limiting Quality Level) and β (consumer's risk) is indicated. Among the class of TNTVSS which exists, for a given (p₁,α) and (p₂, β), a scheme, which will have a more steeper OC curve than that of any other scheme, is identified and given.