Welding Digest

The American Welding Society (AWS) proudly introduces the Welding Procedure Qualifier Endorsement, developed for existing Certified Welding Inspectors (CWI) and Senior Certified Welding Inspectors (SCWI) who want to conduct Welding Procedure Specification (WPS) qualifications. 

The WPS is a key component to ensuring weld quality; its qualifying process is a complex mixture of engineering, metallurgy, welding capability, and inspection. When a problem exists in any of these areas, the result can be failure of the weld to meet specified service conditions. To meet code requirement, the WPS must be properly qualified by a relevant engineering authority.

While Certified Welding Inspectors have a fundamental knowledge of WPS qualification,” commented Denny Smith, Managing Director of Certification, “they require further training and assessment. CWIs or SCWIs who hold the Welding Procedure Qualifier Endorsement have demonstrated that they are able to qualify WPSs with appropriate engineering oversight.”

Prior to sitting for the endorsement exam, candidates are encouraged to participate in either an in-person or online training seminar; 16 hours of instruction provided in two and four days, respectively. “The Welding Procedure Qualifier Endorsement Seminar covers activities related to the qualification of Welding Procedure Specifications (WPS)” Alicia Garcia, Director of Education, stated. “Participants will learn how to assess project requirements, demonstrate knowledge of process variables and relevant documents, evaluate mechanical and nondestructive testing for procedure qualification purposes, prepare a PQR, establish ranges for prequalified WPSs, and list ranges for WPS qualified by testing.”

CWIs and SCWIs who hold the Welding Procedure Qualifier Endorsement will better be able to

-Differentiate between codes, standards, specifications, and other documents commonly used in a welding environment

-Evaluate the various documents reviewed by the welding inspector prior to fabrication

-Discuss the role of the welding inspector

-Examine the role of procedure qualification records in the welding process

-Assess control of materials and explain the importance of material control in meeting standards or specifications for production

-Analyze alloy identification and material specification within welding inspector responsibilities

-Navigate and identify pertinent information in the AWS D1.1 and B2.1 codebooks

-Apply the necessary documents for a particular procedure qualification

-Explain the process of procedure qualification

-Develop welding procedure specifications using real-world examples

-Analyze prequalified WPS' and understand how they are developed

-Analyze how Standard Welding Procedure Specifications are developed, qualified, and used

CWIs seeking to take their career to the next level and become a SCWI, can use this all-new endorsement to help reach their goal. Their added skillset will also contribute to their company's QA program.

For more information, visit aws.org/wpq2.