Feature Article Tracking Metal Data For Certifications by Patrick McCrevan, B&L Information Systems T


here is an all too familiar phrase, “The Customer is King”. This especially rings true in Investment


Casting operations. Investment cast parts are used in many high reliability industries with their associated regulations and hence, a very detailed history of what went into making the casting is almost always required. There are many pieces of information an ERP system ought to provide to satisfy this need, such as: • Incoming Inspection and Lot Data Tracking


• Alloy Definitions and Material Recipes


• Heat Tracking and Chemical Analysis


• Product Lot and Serial Number Tracking


• Certification Document Creation • Historical Data Lookup and Reference Purchase orders from customers


always specify the part details, including the alloy and specification and any required standards. When purchasing new raw materials the supplier should be able to provide a lot number and chemical performance data. This data can be logged into your ERP, or it could be saved with the material inventory records for later inclusion in the certification document.


As part of the production planning process, records are created for the casting. The records include items like Material Type, Specification, Recipe, Weight, etc. The Material Type maintains the description of the raw material and the associated Specification. As part of this definition, there is a Recipe showing the various component raw materials to be combined to create the Customer’s specific alloy. The specification information should include not only chemical properties, but also


casting


physical characteristics. Your ERP should allow for the tracking of this information by either manual or digital input with digital being preferred as it is more


42 ❘ May 2022 ®


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