In oil & gas construction projects across Saudi Arabia and the GCC, the quality and completeness of documentation handed over at mechanical completion is as important as the physical construction itself. Two document types that are central to this handover process — yet frequently misunderstood even by experienced site teams — are the NMR (Non-conformance and Material Receiving Report, or sometimes Non-Conformance Report) and the MDR (Material Data Record or Mechanical Data Record).
Understanding what each document captures, who is responsible for compiling it, and what the operator expects to receive at handover prevents the certificate of completion from being blocked by document deficiency — a frustratingly common source of project delay.
NMR — Non-Conformance Report and Material Receiving Report
The abbreviation NMR covers two related but distinct uses in the industry:
Non-Conformance Report (NCR)
A Non-Conformance Report documents any deviation between what was specified and what was delivered or constructed. NCRs are raised when material does not meet the purchase specification, when a weld fails inspection, when dimensions are outside tolerance, or when a procedural requirement was not followed. Each NCR records:
- NCR number and date of issue
- Description of the non-conformance
- Reference specification or drawing requirement violated
- Disposition — use as is, repair, rework, reject
- Corrective action taken and verification of closure
- Signatures of QC inspector, contractor QC manager and client representative
At project handover, all NCRs must be closed — meaning corrective action has been verified and signed off. Open NCRs block the issue of the Mechanical Completion Certificate (MCC).
Material Receiving Report (MRR)
The MRR is raised when material arrives on site. It documents the physical receipt of materials against the purchase order, including verification of quantities, material heat numbers, mill test certificates (MTCs), physical condition and conformance to the material specification. MRRs form the paper trail linking purchased material to installed components — essential for traceability audits.
MDR — Material Data Record (Mechanical Data Record)
An MDR is the comprehensive dossier compiled for a piece of equipment or a defined scope of construction — it assembles all quality and technical records into a single indexed volume (or electronic folder structure) that is handed over to the operator at mechanical completion.
The MDR is the "life record" of the equipment. For a pressure vessel, the MDR typically contains:
- Purchase order and approved technical documents
- Approved fabrication drawings (latest revision)
- Design calculation report
- Material test certificates (MTCs) for all pressure-containing components
- Weld procedure specifications (WPS) and procedure qualification records (PQR)
- Welder qualification records
- NDE reports (RT, UT, MT, PT) with film log where applicable
- PWHT (post-weld heat treatment) charts and reports
- Hydrotest / pneumatic test records
- Dimensional inspection report
- Nameplate rubbing / photograph
- Code stamping certificate (ASME U-stamp, if applicable)
- Inspection release note from the third-party inspection authority (TPI)
MDR Compilation — Why It Takes Effort
MDR compilation is not a single task at the end of the project — it must be managed progressively throughout construction. Records issued on-site must be filed against the correct equipment tag number immediately. Common reasons MDRs are incomplete at handover include:
- MTCs not received from the vendor at the time of material delivery
- NDE reports not formally documented and signed by the Level II inspector
- PWHT charts misfiled or not correlated to weld joint numbers
- Sub-vendor documentation (e.g., valve test certificates) not collected
- Revisions to drawings not updated in the MDR index
SLETEC supports EPC contractors with NMR and MDR documentation services including progressive document compilation, index preparation, gap identification and final review against operator handover requirements. Combined with our MTO/BOQ preparation service, we provide full documentation support for construction and commissioning phases in Saudi Arabia and India.