Prüfziel

Prüfziel, literally “test objective,” is a term used in quality assurance and testing to denote the objective of an inspection or verification activity. It is a formal statement that describes what must be demonstrated for an item, process, or system to be considered conformant. The Prüfziel specifies the property to be verified, the target value or tolerance, the measurement approach, and the acceptance criteria that determine pass or fail. In practice, it is defined in a Prüfplan or quality plan and drives the design of tests by defining which features to inspect (Prüfmerkmale), which methods to use (Prüfmethoden), the sampling plan, and the decision rules.

A concrete example: for a machined shaft, the Prüfziel might state that the diameter must be 20.00 mm with a tolerance of ±0.05 mm, a cylindrical deviation within 0.02 mm, and a surface roughness Ra not exceeding 1.6 μm. The Prüfziel establishes the criteria against which results are judged and thereby guides data collection, measurement equipment, and traceability.

Prüfziel is closely related to related concepts such as acceptance criteria (Akzeptanzkriterien), target values (Sollwerte), and inspection planning (Prüfplan). It is used across manufacturing, automotive, electronics, and software testing to ensure that verification activities align with quality requirements and provide objective, repeatable decisions.