From 3 Days to 15 Minutes: A Smarter Way to Manage Mill Test Reports (MTR) Workflows

A key player in the manufacturing and distribution of steel components and metal parts, this company has been serving the industrial and construction sectors across Canada and the US since 1992.

With over 50 employees and annual revenues of $15M+, it is recognized for its high quality standards and strict compliance requirements.

Traceability is at the core of their operations. Mill Test Reports (MTRs) — which certify the chemical and mechanical properties of materials — are essential for ensuring compliance and client trust, especially in large-scale structural steel projects.

Until recently, the MTR process was entirely manual. Only one or two employees handled certificate generation, entering data line by line and managing everything from validations to client delivery. This approach created several challenges:

• Heavy administrative workload with high error risk
• No backup if a key person was absent
• Delays in client reporting impacting customer satisfaction
• Inefficient use of human resources

As operations expanded, this legacy process became a bottleneck. The company needed a smarter, faster way to manage compliance documentation—without compromising on accuracy or traceability.

To meet these challenges, Openmind implemented an automated MTR workflow fully integrated with the client’s existing ERP system (P21).

Key improvements included:

• A smart MTR generation engine eliminating manual data entry
• Real-time sync of production and quality data via native ERP integration
• A secure client portal (Amazon S3) for 24/7 access to certificates
• Advanced search features for quick access by lot number, dimensions, etc.
• Automated validation of test results embedded in the quality system
• Real-time alerts and full traceability for every report

By progressively deploying the solution in coexistence with the legacy system, Openmind ensured uninterrupted operations while introducing automation step-by-step.