The basis for Spectra QEST's concrete quality control offerings is QESTLab, a very sophisticated laboratory information management system (LIMS). QESTLab has been specifically designed for concrete and aggregates laboratories, and offers the platform to collect, calculate, check and database testing data both from the laboratory and the field. Data can also be integrated with production and dispatch systems, which provide docket information as well as batch quantities. This means that quality control data are readily available on an enterprise wide level for technical staff as well as production managers at the earliest possible time.

QESTLab gives concrete producers the ability to ensure compliance with relevant production standards, while providing the tools to allow companies to use their quality control data to reduce production variability, benchmark performance and make improvements as required, thereby reducing risk and minimising production cost.

In order to meet these aims, QESTLab assists producers in:
• Controlling raw materials and keep key test parameters within specified limits;
• Keeping concrete production within agreed performance tolerances;
• Minimising concrete strength variations and keeping average strength close to target; and
• Maximising utilisation of lowest cost mixes which satisfy performance requirements for concrete products supplied.

In addition to the standard quality control reports supplied with QESTLab, specialised reports are also provided such as:
• Compliance reports;
• Statistical and individual results (concrete strength, drying shrinkage, aggregate and sand grading, etc);
• Docket reports, including customers, projects, trucks, mixes and costs;
• Batch analysis reports including actual, target, theoretical quantities;
• True mix cost reports;
• Sampling frequencies; and
• Exception reports and alerts.

Additional information on QESTLab can be found here.