MILSTD105

MIL-STD-105 is a United States military standard that defines sampling procedures and tables for inspection by attributes. It provides a framework for acceptance sampling of lots of materials, components, or services in procurement and manufacturing, with the goal of determining whether a lot should be accepted or rejected based on a sample.

The standard centers on the use of attributes—defective or non-defective observations—and links lot size and the chosen inspection level to a specific sample size and acceptance criteria. It covers single and, in some versions, double sampling plans, and it relies on acceptable quality levels (AQL) to set the risk thresholds for accepting defective lots. By selecting a sample size code and applying the corresponding acceptance numbers, inspectors decide whether to pass the lot or to hold or rework it.

MIL-STD-105 organizes data in tables that map lot size and inspection level to a sample size and an acceptance number, facilitating standardized decision-making in quality control. The standard is widely cited in government contracting and has been used across defense and manufacturing industries to reduce inspection costs while maintaining quality.

Over time, MIL-STD-105 has been complemented or replaced in many sectors by international and industry standards such as ISO 2859-1 and ANSI/ASQ Z1.4. In practice, MIL-STD-105 remains referenced in some legacy DoD contracts and programs, even as organizations migrate to other sampling frameworks. The standard’s emphasis on attributes-based inspection continues to influence quality assurance practices and supplier evaluation.