Which of the following describes attributes sampling?

Attributes sampling is a statistical technique used primarily in quality control to determine whether a batch of products meets predefined quality standards. The correct answer accurately describes that attributes sampling focuses specifically on assessing product conformity—meaning it evaluates whether products fulfill certain quality criteria or attributes.

In attributes sampling, products are typically classified as either conforming or non-conforming regarding specific quality characteristics. This helps organizations decide if a batch should be accepted or rejected based on the observed proportions of conforming items in a sample. By using this method, analysts can efficiently assess overall product quality without examining every item, making it suitable for scenarios where a complete inspection is impractical.

The context of the other options highlights their distinctions from the concept of attributes sampling. For example, a measurement-based decision-making method generally relates to variable sampling, which involves measuring quantitative characteristics rather than simply categorizing items. An acceptance plan for categorizing products does relate to quality inspector processes but does not directly define attributes sampling. Lastly, while random selection can be part of the sampling process, attributes sampling fundamentally centers around conformity, which makes option D the best representation of the concept.