Many concrete producers have a need to quickly adjust their production mixes. These changes may be required for a number of reasons (which may depend on local regulations), and could include:
• Quality Control data suggest mixes are under- or over-performing and cement contents need to be adjusted;
• Raw material properties have changed (especially gradings) which require re-proportioning of mixes;
• Adjustments due to material availability (material shortages, oversupply of certain materials) which requires substitution of materials; and
• Seasonal mix adjustments.

Once a decision has been made to adjust the mixes, it is important that these changes can be implemented as easily and as quickly as possible. QESTMix is a mix management tool specifically designed to allow medium and large concrete producers to quickly and efficiently carry out changes to a large number of mixes, and keep a full record of mix history including costs. It uses very sophisticated technologies (change points, mix groups, virtual materials, mix substitutions, mix and product differentiation, etc.) never before seen in one application.

QESTMix shares quality control and mix data with QESTLab (Spectra QEST's laboratory information management system) and QESTMix can be closely integrated with the producer’s dispatch and enterprise systems to share mix, material, cost and production data. Experience shows that typical saving for improved quality control and mix management are in the order of $1 to $2 per cubic metre.

Additional information on QESTMix can be found here.