The Role of Ethics: Lessons Learned at Every Stage

As someone who’s spent years in the welding and nondestructive examination field, I’ve seen my responsibilities evolve dramatically. When I began my career as a technician, my days were filled with hands-on testing and applying procedures precisely as taught. At that stage, topics like business negotiations and ethics were distant concerns. My focus was on delivering the technical services I’d been trained for.

Everything shifted once I found myself leading an organization, responsible not just for hands-on work but for shaping the company’s direction and culture. Suddenly, questions of negotiation, accountability, and professional values were no longer theoretical. They were woven into the everyday fabric of my job.

If there’s one lesson that’s stuck with me — forged through the advice of wise mentors and my own mistakes — it’s that integrity must guide every decision. One mentor told me, “Never leave your integrity behind, no matter how tough the day.” That phrase comes to mind whenever I face challenging moments. For welding inspectors, no matter your role or the company you represent, doing the job isn’t just about ticking boxes. It’s about knowing you’re upholding your own ethical standards.

Navigating Ethical Crossroads

Welding inspectors stand at a busy intersection where production, safety, quality, and client expectations all converge. We answer to multiple parties: our employer, our client, regulatory agencies, and, ultimately, the communities relying on what we inspect. In the real world, ethical choices rarely come with clear signage.

The dilemmas often arrive quietly. Maybe it’s being asked to sign off on a weld that’s “close enough.” Maybe you’re under that familiar pressure to rush, cutting steps to meet a looming deadline. Other times, you might be working with a project manager whose priorities are constantly shifting — quality today, production tomorrow, safety always, but rarely all three aligned.

Throughout the welding profession, organizations talk about values like quality, safety, and productivity. However, anyone who has managed a project knows that those priorities are fluid, shifting in response to deadlines, budgets, or client demands. For inspectors, the key is never losing sight of what matters most: the safety and quality that underpin every project. When outside pressures threaten to muddle your focus, it’s up to you to maintain your standards.

When Your Ethics and Your Employer’s Priorities Don’t Match

You may notice subtle signs. Sometimes, it’s a supervisor asking you to “just keep things moving.” It could be leaving out a step or signing your name to paperwork for work you didn’t actually review. Maybe there’s a bonus tied to hitting a deadline — the kind that makes you want to take a shortcut.

In those moments, professionalism means communicating — calmly, respectfully, and with solid reasoning. Explain why skipping a step isn’t worth the risk and how it could backfire in the long run. Framing your position around the shared goal (a successful, safe, compliant project) helps build trust and understanding even if tempers flare.

Reputation: The Legacy of Your Choices

The welding world is smaller than we often realize. Your reputation follows you — sometimes louder than you expect. Word spreads quickly about who stands firm on quality and ethics, even under pressure. It’s not an easy path, but once people know you’re unwavering, they’re less likely to ask you to compromise.

The flip side, of course, is that one bad decision can cause lasting damage. In industries like ours, built on safety and trust, there’s rarely a second chance after a serious ethical lapse.

Leading by Example

As I moved into management, it became clear that building an ethical team doesn’t happen by accident. It takes intention — training staff not just in technical detail but in the “why” behind our standards. Open communication is essential. Staff need to know they’ll be heard and supported, especially when raising issues or making hard calls, even if that means slowing down production or costing the company money.

Final and Most Important Lesson: Owning Mistakes

No one gets it right every time. I’ve made errors in judgment, missed details, and learned hard lessons on the job. The true mark of professionalism is owning those mistakes the moment they’re found. Be honest with yourself, your team, and your client. Fix what you can, learn from what went wrong, and move forward with greater understanding.

In fact, I’ve found that admitting a mistake (and fixing it) often earns more respect than pretending to be perfect. Colleagues and clients place greater trust in inspectors who they know are transparent, accountable, and committed to improvement. Every error is a chance to get better — if you let it be.

Conclusion

Welding inspection is much more than a technical endeavor. Our decisions impact not only immediate project outcomes but also the safety, reputation, and well-being of entire communities. Our role demands integrity in every action, frankness in every communication, and humility in responding to setbacks. The work isn’t always easy, but done well — and done ethically — it leaves an enduring legacy of trust. If there’s one guiding principle for inspectors at any stage, it’s this: Let your integrity be your strongest asset, and let accountability be the light that guides the path forward.

AMANDA YOUNG (amanda@mcndt.com) is vice president, McNDT Pipeline Ltd., Channahon, Ill. She’s an AWS CWI, ASNT Level 3, and chair of the AWS Chicago Section.