Statistical Testing Methods Used At Erie Mining Company

Variations of the EVOP technique are accepted as the foun- dation in the development of Erie Mining Company's mining, concentrating and pelletizing complex at Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota. The basic one-variable- at-a-time technique served its purpose through the laboratory pilot plant as well as the full-scale production sized pilot plant. However, recognition by Erie Mining Company management of the potential of computer application and statistical experimentation in plant operation and testing led to acquisition of an IBM 1620 computer in 1961. Adaptation of established techniques in statistically designed experimentation and analysis of results is presented in actual case form including the following: 1. Determination and use of variance, standard deviation, standard errors; application of t-test in determining true differences between daily aver ages of product assays; formulation of quality control limits; determining sample size; and application of normality tests will be discussed. 2. Use of mathematical modeling and regression analysis for establishing mill storage conditions based on bin level indicator lights. 3. Polyvariable random balance design of a balling circuit test and resultant identification of primary control variables.