A vesta Steel Works manufactures stainless steel, low-alloy steel, alloys for precision casting, welding electrodes, and ferro alloys. When it was decided in 1958 that a new laboratory for production control was to be built, there was an investigation into different spectrographic possibilities. A combination of X-ray and optical methods was selected, that is, determination of C, P, and S was to be made optically while Si, Ti, and heavier elements were to be determined on X-ray equipment. Specimen taking and specimen preparation techniques were worked out. Certain interelement effects were recorded and methods to correct for them found. Methods to. correct for surface properties in determination of high concentrations have been taken into use. This laboratory has now been in continuous use for more than two years. Statistical data on accuracy, reliability, and continuity of operation are given.