Determination of Bayesian reliability sampling plans based on exponential-inverted gamma distribution

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is the determination of reliability sampling plans in the Bayesian approach assuming that the lifetime distribution is exponential. Design/methodology/approach – Sampling plans are used in manufacturing companies as a tool for carrying out sampling inspections, in order to make decisions about the disposition of many finished products. If the quality characteristic is considered as the lifetime of the products, the plan is known as a reliability sampling plan. In life testing, censoring schemes are adopted in order to save time and cost of life test. The inverted gamma distribution is employed as the natural conjugate prior to the average lifetime of the products. The sampling plans are developed assuming various probability distributions to the lifetime of the products. Findings – The optimum plans n and c are obtained for some sets of values of (p1, a, p2, ß). The selection of sampling plans is illustrated through numerical examples. Originality/value – Results obtained in this paper are original and the study has been done for the first time in this regard. Reliability sampling plans are essential for making decisions either to accept or reject based on the inspection of the sample.