For an 80-mesh MSG premix, assess the supplier's particle specification alongside the material handling route. Follow the sample from bag opening through weighing, feeding and transfer. Record what enters, what arrives and what remains, then decide whether the candidate fits the equipment and operating procedure.
1. Confirm what the 80-mesh offer actually describes
Request the sieve standard, distribution limits, test method and a sample linked to the offered specification. Confirm the manufacturing source, grade designation and availability for the proposed order. The supplier should explain how a commercial delivery will be matched to the sample.
Keep analytical composition and particle distribution as separate approval fields. If a document reports composition but no sieve result, request the missing size evidence.
Before opening the sample, record its packaging condition, identification and received quantity. Note any visible material outside the inner packaging and resolve identity or package damage concerns with the supplier. Trial material and commercial packing may differ; document that difference because the opening and emptying procedure may need a later packing-specific check.
2. Map the route that the material must complete
List the stages in order: container opening, manual weighing or feeder charging, dosing, transfer and collection at the next process step. Identify any temporary vessel, hopper, chute or transfer connection used. Assign a trial owner who can reconcile observations from production, maintenance and quality instead of collecting disconnected comments.
State which operating conditions will remain fixed, including equipment configuration, target addition, feed programme and receiving vessel. Use the plant's approved handling and workplace procedures. Do not assume that a material described as fine will feed consistently, disperse well or suit every piece of equipment; those are questions for the trial, not purchasing promises.
If a current material is being replaced, run the approved reference through the same route where practical. Log operator interventions such as tapping a vessel, stopping a feeder or manually clearing retained material. An apparently completed transfer can conceal extra work that matters when estimating routine production requirements.
3. Reconcile quantity through each transfer
Use suitable verified weighing equipment and the plant's chosen measurement procedure. Record container tare weights and keep recovered residue separate from unexplained differences. Account for removed laboratory samples. The purpose is to make a discrepancy visible, not to assign an unsupported cause from the difference alone.
| Stage | Record | Review question |
|---|---|---|
| Initial charge | Sample code, gross weight, tare and net material introduced | Is the starting quantity traceable? |
| Dosing | Target addition, measured delivered quantity and intervention log | Did the equipment meet the plant's dosing criterion? |
| Transfer | Quantity collected, receiving vessel tare and transfer conditions | Was the intended quantity delivered to the next stage? |
| Residue and samples | Recovered residue, removed samples and their destinations | Are known material removals accounted for? |
| Reconciliation | Input minus collected output, recovered residue and removed samples | Does any unexplained difference require investigation? |
Set the acceptable dosing variation and reconciliation tolerance before the run, considering the plant's process needs and weighing capability. If the recorded difference exceeds the agreed limit, check the measurement records, tare values and material path before changing the ingredient specification.
4. Inspect the delivered material and close exceptions
Label samples taken before and after the handling route. Have quality decide whether the proposed particle specification needs verification at both points and use a consistent method if comparisons are made. Record visible changes, retained material and operator observations without turning them into unmeasured claims about the candidate's behaviour.
For any interruption, record its location, timing, operating settings and corrective action. Distinguish a supplier question, such as an unexplained sample specification, from an equipment question, such as an incorrect feeder setup. Each exception needs an owner and a resolution before routine approval.
A completed transfer trial is not finished-product approval. The formulation team still needs its established checks for the resulting premix. Conversely, a satisfactory finished sample should not erase recurring dosing interruptions. Keep handling acceptance and formulation acceptance as separate sign-offs so that purchasing understands any limits on use.
5. Put the confirmed conditions into the enquiry
Request commercial terms using the accepted sample code, proposed particle specification, packing preference, expected order quantity and destination. If the plan requires 25 kg bags, ask the supplier to confirm that combination for the proposed grade. Do not assume a public packing option applies to every size specification or current offer.