These are some of the basic qualities required by any refractory industry to meet the present market standards :
·         First of all, any refractory industry must have experienced and professionally skilled personal of different technical categories who manufactures the refractories.
·         It must supply refractory products and services which meets the changing and challenging needs of the customers.(for that it must meet the cement personels from all cement plants and enquire about their challenges faced in refractory)
·         The refractories supplied by them should have high performance and quality.
·         Any refractory industry can catch the market if their products give prolong life with total system engineering and services.
·         Moreover it must provide faith to customers continously with dedication.
 

·         Besides the refractory industry must have a physical and chemical laboratory for any refractory testing purposes and for advanced research with product development.
·         Cost effective methods and innovation techniques will be added as an advantage.
·         Any refractory industry can get the customer confidence if it designs,installs and provides commissioning services to the customer manufacturing plants(turnkey projects) with a regular follow up even after commissioning.
·         Even takeover of plant shutdown activities and taking training sessions about your product to the plant peronal also adds an advantage.
·         The refractory product to be as per custom shaped.
·         Mainly a broad chainlink of marketing development personals are eyes of the refractory industry.
                                                                              

·         The refractories must meet the urgency and emergency situations by reducing shutdown/maintenance/stoppage hours.
·         The refractories provided the company must be easy to install or easy flowing type with easy maintenance
·         Any refractory company providing different products with different properties can be selected for your own refractory works as they have different experiences.
·         Its an advantage to have same refractory supplier for both front end and back end liners(insulating liners).
·         By providing entire refractory layout drawings including anchors profile for both front end and back end (insulating liners) correctly the performance of any refractory company can be judged.
·         Time saving and reasonable cost of refractory with prolong life will be an advantage.
·          Moreover the refractories must meet the customer needs as recommended by the customer.

                                                                                      
·         Some of the customer expected refractory properties are as follows:
·         refractory type
·         spalling
·         erosion
·         cold crushing strength at different (high and low) temperatures
·         refractoriness
·         changing temperatures
·         resistance to chemical attack and slag attack
·         pyrometric cone equivalent or softening temperature
·         stiffness and less porous
·         low moisture
·         minimum iron content   
·         dry pressed type 
·         density at dry condition
·         monolithic    
·         thermal expansion
·         thermal conductivity  
·         maximum size of the grain
·         water required for casting
·         method of installation
·         type of bonding   
·         modulus of rupture at different temperatures
·         permanent linear change at different temperatures
·         areas where the refractory can be used
·         positive properties of refractory                                                                                                                                                                                                            
·         The refractory provider must provide manual about mixing methods, installing,maintenance and trouble shooting procedures about their products.
·         The refractories should must pose any environmental hazards.So refractories containing chromium or any radioactive elements even in traces should be handled care while disposing it off.The refractory company must provide procedures about disposing of such used refractory.
 

·         The buyer must get feedbacks about the refractory company from its customers before selecting any refractoy manufacturer.
·          A ISO or bureau of indian standards any national or international certified refractory supplier can be selected.If yes,check the license number and validity of the certificate.
·         The refratory company must provide heat up and cooling schedule of their products to its customers. 
·         The refractory provider must comply with customer requirements.
·         The refractory provider must pack the refractory powder in water proof bags.
·         In case the chromite refractory manufacturer,before purchasing, the customer must ensure that some human hazardous chromite salts which also causes damage to brick was not added.
Moreover,any refractory buyer must observe the chemical composition of the refractory.ie.,the refractory must contain maximum value of required refractory material and minimum value of unwanted refractory material.This depends upon the type of refractory.For example,a high alumina castable must have maximum level of alumina (required refractory material) and minimum level of iron content(unrequired refractory material).   
How to predict that whether we are using a proper refractory?
Its a simple task.
Your yearly refractory consumption to be less than 0.9 kilograms per ton of clinker or any product produced yearly.
 If yes, then you are using a good refractory or else you must change your refractory.