PurposeLifetime data are used in many different applied sciences, like biomedicine, engineering, insurance and finance and others. The purpose of this paper is to develop a new acceptance sampling plans for Rama distribution when the mean lifetime test is truncated at a pre-determined time. The minimum sample sizes required to assert the specified life mean is obtained for a given customer’s risk. The operating characteristic function values of the sampling plans and producer’s risk are calculated.Design/methodology/approachThe results are illustrated using numerical examples and a real data set is considered to illustrate the performance of the suggested acceptance sampling plans and how it can be used for the industry applications.FindingsThis paper shows a new acceptance sampling plans based on Rama distribution in the particular case when the mean life time test is truncated.Originality/valueThe results calculated in this paper demonstrate the differences between OC values for different distributions taken into account. In particular, OC values of Rama distribution are found to be less than the proposed distribution counterparts.