The development of alloy purchasing specifications is reviewed along with the control of incoming materials for their chemistry and sizing, and the disposition of marginal shipments. Minimum alloy input is determined and an actual calculation of alloy requirement of a heat of steel is made using a simplified formula. Computerized input calculations for lowest-cost alloy mix are made, as well as computerized and manual checks of actual versus planned alloy input and performance. Finally, new alloy practices and their dependence on required steel quality are determined, and examples given of minimizing the cost/benefit ratio regardless of alloy cost.