A good Mill Test Certificate (MTC) lets you confirm that the steel delivered matches what you ordered—grade, dimensions and properties. The fastest way to read one is to scan it in the same order a QA inspector would: identity → spec → chemistry → mechanicals → tests → sign‑off. Below is a simple checklist and the red flags that trip up most projects.

1) Identity

• Heat number / lot number: Must appear on both the MTC and the physical goods (tags or stencils).
• Dimensions and product form: Match to the PO and packing list.
• Quantity / piece IDs: Tie each piece back to the heat where possible.

2) Specification

• Standard and grade: e.g., ASTM A240 304L, EN 10025 S235J2, API 5L X52.
• Delivery condition: hot‑rolled, cold‑rolled, normalized, quenched & tempered, pickled & oiled, etc.

3) Chemistry

• List of elements with actual values and the standard limits.
• Watch C, Mn, S, P and elements that affect galvanizing (Si) or corrosion (Cr, Ni, Mo).

4) Mechanical properties

• Yield / tensile / elongation: Actual values must meet or exceed the standard.
• Impact energy (if required): Check the temperature (e.g., 0 °C, −20 °C) and orientation (longitudinal/transverse).

5) Tests and NDT

• Flatness, hardness, bend tests as applicable to product form.
• NDT: UT/ET/PT/RT with acceptance criteria; calibrations or notch details if listed.

6) Certification level

• EN 10204 type (2.2, 3.1, 3.2). 3.1 is common; 3.2 requires third‑party involvement.
• Mill stamp and authorized signature/date.

Red flags that cause rework

• Mismatched heat numbers between plate tags and MTC.
• Wrong standard or a mix of standards without an agreed equivalency.
• Missing units or decimal point errors (e.g., % vs ppm).
• Impact test at the wrong temperature for your site conditions.

PO snippet you can copy

• MTC EN 10204 3.1 with heat numbers matching piece IDs
• Report chemistry, yield/tensile/elongation; impact at −20 °C where required
• List delivery condition and NDT (if any)

Send us a sample MTC and your drawing—if anything looks off, we’ll flag it before production and help you correct the PO so the replacement doesn’t slip your schedule.