Automation of Certified Material Test Report (CMTR) Acceptance

Background: Suppliers and Bechtel Plant Machinery, Inc (BPMI) invest significant hours in reviewing and auditing Certified Material Test Reports (CMTRs) to verify that materials for critical parts adhere to specification requirements. This rigorous review is a cornerstone of the Program, forming the basis for the quality of the final components. First-tier suppliers mandate that sub-tier suppliers submit CMTR packages for approval before permitting the shipment of parts. Alternatively, first-tier suppliers may review and approve these CMTR packages upon their arrival at the receiving dock, before moving the parts into inventory. BPMI conducts biannual audits of the first-tier suppliers' CMTR acceptance procedures. This is done by examining a focused subset of CMTR packages against the standards set for the parts by the first-tier suppliers. Need for Automation: There is a pressing requirement to automate the process of CMTR reviewing and auditing against contract and specification requirements. Such automation is essential to maintain the consistent quality of parts while streamlining the current labor-intensive procedures. Information is sought on technologies that may enable automation of CMTRs.