Quality Control of Geochemical Samples in Mining Industry

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1.     Introduction

This Blog describes the Quality Control of Geochemical Samples in Mining Industry and the terminology related. Very often in the mining industry, there are various physical, chemical, acid and other tests that are to be conducted to assess the quality of the metal ores. Due to the volatile nature of the various materials such Iron Ore, Phosphorus Ore etc.,, their properties needs to be checked frequently. For example, percentage of moisture, compressive strength, density, Percentage of Oxides, porosity, Loss on Ignition, Metal % etc., change with the time.

2.     Terminology Used in Quality Analysis (Mining Industry)

2.1. Point of Analysis

• Origin Analysis:

Quality results are checked at the Mining site

• Destination Analysis:

Quality results are checked at the Destination/Customer site

• Negotiation:

Quality results are sometimes decided by negotiating between Mining Company & Customer. (Depends on the Agreements between two parties)

2.2. Parties conducting the Analysis

• Client:

Quality results are checked by the Mining Company

• Independent:

Quality results are checked by the Independent Vendor (decided by both Mining Company & Customer)

• Umpire:

Quality results are checked by the Third Party

• Customer:

Quality results are checked by the Customer

2.3. Geographical Location/Testing Laboratory

• Location/Laboratory:

Analysis conducted at a particular geographical place or location. For example, Laboratory, Oman, New York etc.,

3.     Mining Industry Requirement

As the quality parameter values vary frequently, many a times, the quality analysis is carried out is differentiated based on the Geographical location, Time & the party conducting the tests. Due to these reasons, many results are recorded for the same characteristic. In order to accommodate these requirements in SAP Quality Management module, the Origin of Results Data can be used. This concept avoids creating multiple characteristics for the same quality parameter that is to be checked. Moreover, in Mining Industry, the invoicing and billing depends on quality of the mining material. For example, for the Material Ore with less moisture percentage is invoiced with less cost when compared to the Material Ore with more moisture percentage. This can be addressed using the Origin of Results Data.

4.     Significance of Origin of Results Data

The results origin entry defines the source of information. This can be assigned to the characteristic in the Inspection Plan or in the Results recording screen. As long as the inspection characteristic has the status "in process", results origin during results recording can be specified. 

5.     Configuration Required in SAP

Navigation Path: SPRO > Quality Management > Quality Inspection > Results Recording > Define Origins of Results Data

Origin of Results Data	Short Text
Z1	Origin - Client Analysis
Z2	Origin - Independent Analysis
Z3	Origin - Umpire Analysis
Z4	Origin - Customer Analysis
Z5	Destination - Client Analysis
Z6	Destination - Independent Analysis
Z7	Destination - Umpire Analysis
Z8	Destination - Customer Analysis
Z9	Negotiated Client and Customer Analysis
ZA	Oman Main Laboratory
ZB	Oman Supporting Laboratory
ZC	Oman External Laboratory

5.1. Detailed Explanation of Configured values

• In the Origin of Results data configured, Z1 to Z8 are analysis values with reference to the Parties conducting the Test (Client/Independent/Umpire/Customer) and the Point of Analysis (Origin/Destination)
• Z9 refers to the negotiated value between Client and the Customer
• ZA to ZB are the values with reference to Geographical location (Oman Lab)
• In addition to the description of the results origin, data source for the inspection results also can be selected in the configuration

6.     SAP Scenario

Below is the scenario demonstrated for usage of Origin of Results Data.

6.1. Master Data

6.1.1.     Master Inspection Characteristic

• Create Master Inspection Characteristic Master using Transaction code QS21
• Iron content (Fe) is considered in the below example with Quantitative characteristic

 

6.1.2.     Inspection Plan – Result of Origin assignment

• Create Inspection Plan using Transaction code QP01.

• Assign Master Inspection characteristic for the Operation.

• Single Master Inspection characteristic (Fe) is assigned to assess the same characteristic at various ports or at different point of time etc.,

• Select Master Inspection characteristic and Click on General Data Details

• Assign Origin Results Data Z1- Origin - Client Analysis for the Characteristic as shown below.

• Similarly, assign Origin Results Data Z2 - Origin - Independent Analysis for the Characteristic 20 as shown below.

• After assigning the Origin results data for all the characteristics, save the inspection plan. Message will be displayed as below.

6.2. Transaction Steps

6.2.1. Inspection Lot creation

• Create Inspection Lot using Transaction QA01 (Inspection Type 01 is used in the below example).
• Enter Quantity details & assign Inspection Plan.

         

6.2.2.     Results Recording

• Record the results for the characteristic using QA02/QE51N transaction

 

• In the Record Results: Characteristic Overview screen, we can observe that the result is recorded for the same characteristic with different Origin Results Data.

 

7.     Benefits derived with Usage of Origin of Results Data

7.1. Invoicing

Depending on the agreement between the Mining Company and the Customer/Vendor, the appropriate result can be considered for the Invoicing (out of all the values recorded for the same characteristic).

7.2. Batch Update Functionality

Minor enhancement can be done to the standard batch update functionality while taking Usage decision for the inspection lot, in order to update the batch value with one of the results recorded based on pre-configured conditions.