What does AOQ represent in quality management?

AOQ stands for Average Outgoing Quality, which is a critical concept in quality management, particularly in the context of acceptance sampling. It represents the average quality level of products that are accepted and sent out to customers after a sampling process.

In quality control processes, especially those that involve sampling, the AOQ helps organizations assess the effectiveness of their inspection processes. It is calculated by considering both the quality of the incoming product and the probability of acceptance based on the sampling plan. By understanding the AOQ, managers can make informed decisions about the quality of their output and the potential impacts on customer satisfaction.

This concept underscores the importance of not just measuring in-process or incoming quality, but also final output quality delivered to customers, which ultimately reflects the organization's overall performance and commitment to quality standards.