ASTM E2334-09 PDF

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 standard, but only when misclassification rates are well understood or known and can be approximated numerically.