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Mill Certificates

Table of Contents

Mill certificates are quality documents that come with steel products. They prove the steel meets certain standards and specifications.

What is a Mill Certificate?

A Mill Certificate is an official document from the steel mill that shows:

  • Chemical composition of the steel
  • Mechanical properties (strength, hardness, etc.)
  • Test results
  • Batch/heat numbers
  • Compliance with standards

Why they matter

  • Required for quality audits
  • Needed for customer documentation
  • Prove material traceability
  • Required for compliance projects

Viewing Your Certificates

The main page shows all your stored mill certificates in a table.

What you’ll see

  • Certificate Number - Unique reference from the mill
  • Material/Grade - What type of steel
  • Heat/Batch Number - Production batch identifier
  • Date Issued - When the mill issued it
  • Mill/Supplier - Who produced it
  • Status - Uploaded, verified, or linked to inventory

Uploading Certificates

Uploading a Single Certificate

When you receive a certificate:

  1. Click the + Upload Certificate button
  2. A form appears
  3. Fill in the information:
    • Certificate Number - Enter the reference from the document
    • Material/Grade - Select the steel grade
    • Heat/Batch Number - Enter the mill’s batch number
    • Date Issued - When the certificate was issued
    • Supplier - Name of the mill or supplier
    • File - Click to select the certificate file (PDF or image)
  4. Click Upload

Tip

Keep the original filename clear, like “Cert-123456-Grade500.pdf” for easy identification.

Accepted File Types

You can upload:

  • PDF files (most common)
  • JPEG/JPG images
  • PNG images
  • TIFF files

Best Practice

PDF is preferred as it maintains document quality and is easy to view.

Searching for Certificates

Using Search and Filters

For more targeted searching:

  1. Click the Filter button
  2. Type into a text field to search, or use the filter fields:
    • Material Grade - Show only specific grades
    • Date Range - Certificates from a certain period
    • Supplier - All certificates from one mill
    • Status - Linked to inventory or not
  3. Click Apply

Common searches

  • “Show all Grade 500 certificates”
  • “Show certificates from this month”
  • “Show certificates not yet linked to inventory”

Viewing Certificate Details

To see or download a certificate

  1. Click on any certificate row
  2. The detail page opens

What you’ll see

  • All certificate information
  • Preview of the document
  • Related inventory items (if linked)
  • Download button

Downloading a Certificate

To save or print:

  1. Open the certificate details
  2. Click the Download button
  3. The PDF or image file downloads
  4. Open it with your PDF reader or image viewer

Tip

Download certificates when you need to send them to customers or inspectors.

Linking Certificates to Inventory

When steel arrives with a certificate, the two will automatically be linked, so you don’t have to.

After Inventory is Added

To link later:

  1. Go to Inventory
  2. Edit the inventory item
  3. Select the mill certificate
  4. Save

Or:

  1. Go to the certificate detail page
  2. Click Link to Inventory
  3. Select the inventory items
  4. Save

Managing Certificates

Editing Certificate Information

If you need to correct information:

  1. Open the certificate details
  2. Click the Edit button
  3. Update the information
  4. Click Save

Note

You usually can’t change the certificate file itself - if you have a corrected version, delete and re-upload.

Deleting Certificates

If a certificate was uploaded in error:

  1. Open the certificate details
  2. Click the Delete button
  3. Confirm deletion

Warning

If the certificate is linked to inventory, you’ll need to unlink it first or the link will be removed.

Certificate Status

Certificates can have different statuses:

  • Uploaded - File is in the system
  • Verified - Information has been checked
  • Linked - Connected to specific inventory
  • Archived - Old certificate kept for records

Update status as you process certificates to track your workflow.

Common Questions

What if I have a paper certificate?

Scan it or take a clear photo, then upload the image file. PDF scans work best.

Can I upload the same certificate twice?

You can, but it’s better to use unique certificate numbers to avoid confusion. If you uploaded by mistake, delete the duplicate.

What if the certificate covers multiple batches?

Upload it once and link it to all relevant inventory items.

How long should I keep certificates?

Keep them as long as you have the steel in stock, and for several years after for audit purposes. Check your industry regulations.

What if a customer requests a certificate?

Search for it, view the details, download the file, and send it to them.

Can I bulk upload certificates?

Currently, upload them one at a time. This ensures proper information entry for traceability.

Best Practices

  1. Upload immediately - Don’t let certificates pile up; upload them when deliveries arrive
  2. Use clear naming - Name files descriptively before uploading
  3. Link to inventory - Always link certificates to the corresponding stock
  4. Verify information - Double-check certificate numbers and heat numbers
  5. Keep originals - Store paper originals in a safe place as backup
  6. Regular audits - Periodically check that recent inventory has certificates
  7. Customer ready - Keep certificates organized so you can quickly respond to requests

Next Steps

With certificates organized:

Remember

Proper certificate management ensures compliance and customer confidence!