Inspection Trends
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August 2026
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The Answer Is
Q: I passed my Certified Welding Inspector exam recently, but I’m having a difficult time understanding exactly how alloying elements interact with iron, and how they influence the properties of metal. Can you provide an overview of the basics of alloying steels?
see moreClass is in Session
"No one had ever told me this was so fun and addicting,” said a student who was enrolled in JD Castillo’s welding course but was too scared to grab an electrode holder. That finally changed when Castillo, ever his students’ biggest advocate, struck a deal with him. The student would be Castillo’s shop foreman during class, but he would eventually have to get certified.
see moreUsing Eddy Current Testing for Corrosion Detection in Welded Structures
In many industrial facilities, corrosion rarely appears randomly across a structure. Instead, inspectors often notice that degradation tends to develop near welded joints. Weld toes, attachment welds, and heat-affected zones (HAZs) are frequently the first locations where corrosion initiates.
see moreModernizing Documentation and Reporting in Welding Inspection
Welding inspection is an essential part of quality assurance across many industries. Its main challenge is not only verifying weld integrity but also maintaining documentation that supports compliance with codes, specifications, and regulatory requirements.
see moreBuilding a Quality Program from Scratch
I start important projects by taking them apart and rebuilding them from scratch. It’s how I distinguish between what is required and what must be done to meet those requirements. Many quality management approval programs are recognized worldwide, and this approach works for any of them.
see moreHow to Use AI to Write and Audit Welding Documents
Welding inspectors and quality managers are spending more time than ever managing paperwork. Today’s artificial intelligence (AI) tools, such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, offer a way to change that by enabling near-instant creation, organization, and review of the technical documents CWIs regularly handle.
see moreBeyond Credentials: What Welding Inspectors Should and Shouldn’t Do
In this trade, confidence can get mistaken for competence. You see it when someone tries to win the discussion by quoting clause numbers rather than applying the requirements to the work in front of them. That is not how I approach inspection. I am not an engineer, and I do not use the code book as a debating tool. My responsibility is to verify conformance to the governing code, contract documents, and approved procedures.
see moreThe Next Evolution of Welding Automation and Inspection
Welding is one of the most universal but unforgiving manufacturing processes in the modern world. From vehicles and bridges to wind towers, pressure vessels, and battery trays, welded joints quietly determine whether structures endure decades of service or fail prematurely.
see morePublication Archive
View past issues of our magazines, including Welding Journal Research Supplement in PDF format.