Tech Talk

At Haltermann Solutions we strive to meet customer needs and expectations. This process starts with the customer providing their desired specifications.  We review these specifications to determine if the fuel can be practically produced. This dialogue with our customer ensures that we take into account the precision and repeatability(r) of the analytical method used to measure a given specification parameter, the reproducibility (R) among different labs measuring the same parameter, and the variability inherent in manufacturing numerous blends of the same fuel. In an effort to describe the importance of proper specification limits, we have given an example below:

For example we were asked by one of our customers to formulate a fuel as shown in the specifications given in the attached table. If we had agreed to manufacture this fuel, accepting the specifications proposed by this customer, there was a good likelihood that we would not have been able to meet our customer’s needs all the time - either because certain analytical methods were not precise enough to measure a given parameter, or the minimum and maximum values expected by the customer were outside the variability of the measurement and the variation of the manufacturing process. To prove our point, we produced four samples of this fuel in our lab under controlled conditions (manufacturing scale would present additional challenges and variation). Sixteen samples of same fuel sent out to 4 different analytical labs in Houston area. Blind analysis (i.e. no specifications or targets provided to the analytical lab) was performed to ensure there was no bias in the results.

Data and results in attached spread sheet. Statistical analysis was performed on the lab results of the analytical data compiled on a typical blend. You will notice that some parameters proposed by the customer for this fuel were outside than the minimum/maximum range predicted by our data or the reported ASTM reproducibility for those methods. These are highlighted in pink color on the attached table.

We hope this example has demonstrated to you, our customer, the importance of having a good dialogue with us before we commit to meeting your need.

Talk to us and we will help you arrive at the realistic specifications for the fuel you want us produce.