Quality Control of Geochemical Samples in Mining Industry

1. Introduction

This document 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

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Quality Control of Geochemical Samples in Mining Industry

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

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Quality Control of Geochemical Samples in Mining Industry

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 Z1 Z2 Z3 Z4 Z5 Z6 Z7 Z8 Z9 ZA ZB ZC

Short Text Origin - Client Analysis Origin - Independent Analysis Origin - Umpire Analysis Origin - Customer Analysis Destination - Client Analysis Destination - Independent Analysis Destination - Umpire Analysis Destination - Customer Analysis Negotiated Client and Customer Analysis Oman Main Laboratory Oman Supporting Laboratory Oman External Laboratory

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Quality Control of Geochemical Samples in Mining Industry

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

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Quality Control of Geochemical Samples in Mining Industry

6.1.2. Inspection Plan Result of Origin assignment

Create Inspection Plan using Transaction code QP01.

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Quality Control of Geochemical Samples in Mining Industry

Assign Master Inspection characteristic for the Operation.

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Quality Control of Geochemical Samples in Mining Industry

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.

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Quality Control of Geochemical Samples in Mining Industry

6.2.2.

Results Recording

Record the results for the characteristic using QA02/QE51N transaction

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Quality Control of Geochemical Samples in Mining Industry

In the Record Results: Characteristic Overview screen, we can observe that the result is recorded for

the same characteristic with different Origin Results Data.

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Quality Control of Geochemical Samples in Mining Industry

7. Benefits derived with Usage of Origin of Results Data

7.1. Invoicing

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Quality Control of Geochemical Samples in Mining Industry

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.

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