An appropriate welding quality system is the foundation of delivering a quality welded product or service. When designed for the welding fabricator's unique products and suitably committed to paper and practice, the daily manufacturing operations of the welding fabricator are more consistent and traceable when problems arise. It is an increasing trend that customers want to see that a welding quality assurance system is documented and demonstrated. They are concerned that the welding fabricator and that fabricator's subcontractors are capable of welding products that meet specifications.

The core of a welding quality system is a quality manual that will identify the duties and responsibilities of management, supervisors, and welders, and will provide the customer with better information about who is responsible to ensure that the welding meets specifications. Companies of all sizes can benefit substantially through the systematic improvements encouraged by state-of-the-art quality systems.

Technical Documents
QC17:2008  Specification for AWS Accreditation of Certified Welding Fabricators
B5.17:2008  Specification for the Qualification of Welding Fabricators

Fabricator Program Requirements
Responding to industry demand, AWS has provides a welding certification program for companies that use welding as a joining process. The requirements for this program are set forth in an AWS QC17, Specification for AWS Accreditation of Certified Welding Fabricators and AWS B5.17, Specification for the Qualification of Welding Fabricators. These standards define the requirement for a company's compliance with welding-related functions and assures, through third party assessment, that the Welding Fabricator has the personnel, organization, experience, procedures, knowledge, equipment, capability, and commitment to conduct proper weldments. AWS B5.17 was developed through an ANSI accredited consensus process by the AWS B5 Committee on Qualification. The B5 Committee is composed of representatives throughout industry and academia who have interests and experience in the qualification of welding personnel and facilities. AWS QC17 was developed by the AWS Certification Committee.

Fabricator Program Instructions
Certification, or accreditation, is the process of documenting the conformance to stated requirements. For welding fabricators to achieve certification, a process has been defined in AWS QC17, Standard for Accreditation of Welding Fabricators for AWS Certified Welding Fabricator Program. Written by the AWS Certification Committee and administered by the AWS Certification Department, the certification program for companies involves several steps on the road to certification.

1. Get the information. Download the forms and standards using the icons on this page. You will receive the application form, the B5.17 standard, the QC17 standard, and a manual and onsite audit checklist. Study all of the materials to become familiar with the program requirements.
2. Submit the application along with your quality manual to the AWS Certification Department. An assessor will be assigned by AWS to review your quality manual and work with you to improve it if necessary.
3. After your quality manual has been accepted, an assessor will contact you and arrange for a date for your onsite audit. The assessor will use the same onsite audit checklist that you have, so you will know what the assessor will be looking for.
4. The onsite audit will consist of an opening meeting, a review of your facility's quality manual, an inspection and assessment of the facility itself, and a closing meeting to discuss any findings and concerns observed by the assessor.
5. Your facility will have one month to respond to any outstanding actions to the satisfaction of the assessor and the AWS Certification Committee.
6. Upon successful completion of all requirements and satisfaction of all fees due, the facility will be accredited as an AWS Certified Welding Fabricator. This certification shall remain in effect for a period of three years, with annual self-audit renewals in the second and third year, after which the process repeats itself.

Certified Welding Fabricator Application
The Fabricator application is available for download on the Certification Documents page.

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