RHI Magnesita is a global leader in the refractory industry, specialising in the development and supply of high-grade materials and innovative solutions designed to endure extreme temperatures. Committed to driving innovation in high-temperature applications, the company plays a pivotal role in the manufacturing processes of critical industries such as steel, cement, and glass production. Their expertise not only enhances efficiency and durability in these sectors but also contributes to technological advancements in handling extreme heat environments, thereby meeting the rigorous demands of their diverse client base.

The brief.

The primary challenge RHI Magnesita faced was the absence of a structured QA process. The team lacked the necessary skills and awareness of modern QA and test automation practices. Without any form of test automation in place, the quality assurance process was not only manual but also inconsistent and prone to errors. Furthermore, the complex business domain of refractory materials, coupled with non-deterministic data, posed significant hurdles.

The complexity of RHI Magnesita’s business required a robust, automated testing framework that could handle intricate scenarios and ensure comprehensive coverage across all aspects of its software products. In order to transform their QA processes, ensuring high-quality product releases and greater operational efficiency, our goal was to establish a rigorous QA process, introduce test automation, and enable a more efficient and reliable release cycle.

The solution.

We implemented a comprehensive end-to-end (E2E) test automation solution tailored to RHI Magnesita’s needs. Our approach included several key components:

1. Frontend tests integration: We incorporated frontend tests into the continuous integration (CI) pipeline, ensuring that every code change was automatically validated against defined quality standards before merging. This step was crucial for catching issues early in the development process.

2. Nightly E2E tests: To provide thorough validation of the entire system, we set up nightly E2E tests. These tests simulated real-world user scenarios, ensuring that all components of the system worked together seamlessly.

3. Integration tests for data science pipelines: Recognising the importance of data accuracy and consistency, we developed integration tests specifically for RHI Magnesita’s data science pipelines. These tests validated data processing and analysis workflows, ensuring reliable outputs.

4. Test Case Definition: We worked closely with RHI Magnesita’s team to define comprehensive test cases. This collaboration ensured that all critical functionalities were covered and that the tests aligned with business requirements.

Through these implementations, we enabled a weekly release cycle, significantly enhancing the efficiency and reliability of RHI Magnesita’s software releases.

The outcome.

Our collaboration yielded significant improvements in RHI Magnesita’s QA processes and product delivery:

• Decreased release cycle The introduction of automated testing and a structured QA process enabled a consistent weekly release cycle, reducing time-to-market.

• Optimised release process We created a fast and optimised release process by automating tests and integrating them into the CI pipeline. This enabled faster development iterations and ensured that only high-quality, thoroughly tested code reached production.

• High test automation coverage

We achieved high test coverage across frontend, backend, and data science components, ensuring comprehensive validation of the entire system.

The changes we implemented over almost four years improved product quality, enhanced reliability, and increased confidence in RHI Magnesita’s software releases, reinforcing its position as a leader in the refractory industry. Through our partnership, we demonstrated how effective QA and test automation can drive significant business value and operational efficiency.