Patent ID: 7499818

Claim:
A system for developing sampling plans, comprising: a coordinate measuring machine (CMM) that inspects X common features that are each included on N objects; an input module that is used to input inspection criteria to generate a sampling plan associated with inspections of said objects for said CMM and that is used to selectively modify said inspection criteria to develop multiple sampling plans; a storage device that stores said inspection criteria; and a control module that controls the CMM using said inspection criteria, wherein said inspection criteria comprises: inspection of a first one of said X common features on a M 1 set of said N objects, and inspection of a second one of said X common features on a M 2 set of said N objects that is different than said M 1 set of said N objects, where said M 1 set corresponds with at least one different one of said N objects than said M 2 set and where X, M 1 , M 2 and N are integers, wherein said inspection criteria comprises performing Y inspections on respective ones of said N objects, where Y is an integer that is less than or equal to N and where Y is greater than or equal to M 1 and M 2 .