NLMK Group digitalizes industrial laboratories

NLMK Group has implemented LIMS, or Laboratory Information Management System, a digital service for quality control of metal products. The service automates operations by departments that are responsible for incoming inspections of raw materials, monitoring of process parameters, and qualification testing of finished goods. LIMS is now part of NLMK's end-to-end MES system spanning from "ore to coil". The system expedites the transfer of raw material quality data into production control systems, and mitigates the human factor in calculations and processing of test data.

The system is deployed at the labs of Stoilensky, Sintering & Ironmaking at NLMK Lipetsk, and the lab at NLMK India. LIMS is also nearing completion of a trial run at NLMK Lipetsk Steelmaking Operations.

Timely and reliable data on the quality of raw material inputs, semi-finished and finished products are essential for effective process control at all of its stages: from planning mine-pit development or finding the right input balance for making of coke, sinter, hot metal and steel, through to precise dosing of alloying elements to individual customer specifications. Lab test outcomes are also used to adjust equipment parameters across the entire production chain.

NLMK's LIMS has helped digitize more than 500 measurement methodologies, 250 report forms, and is integrated with 63 high-precision laboratory equipment installations. The service has more than 400 active users, and laboratory test data from LIMS are made available to several thousand users through other MES services.

The deployment of LIMS ensures compliance with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025, an international standard, streamlines laboratory certification in accordance with the official accreditation criteria, making LIMS a key link into the Company's quality management process.

Roll-out of LIMS at NLMK Lipetsk is to complete in 2025 with automation of laboratories that service the site's Rolling Operations.

About NLMK Group

NLMK Group is a vertically integrated steelmaking company, the largest producer of steel products in Russia and one of the most efficient in the world.

NLMK Group's steel products are used in various industries, from construction and machine building to the manufacturing of power-generation equipment and offshore wind turbines.

NLMK operates production facilities in Russia, Europe and the United States. The Company's steel production capacity exceeds 14.5 million tonnes per year.

For more information on NLMK Group, please visit our website.

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