Welder & Welding Procedure Qualification

A Welding Procedure Specification (WPS) is a written document that defines how a weld should be completed. It specifies the welding process, parent material, filler metal, shielding gas, joint design, welding position and welding parameters. A WPS helps ensure welds are completed consistently and meet the required quality and mechanical performance.

A Procedure Qualification Record (PQR), sometimes referred to as a WPQR, is the documented evidence that a welding procedure has been tested and approved. It records the welding parameters used during testing together with the mechanical test results, confirming that the WPS is suitable for production welding.

A Welding Procedure Qualification Record (WPQR) demonstrates that a welding procedure has successfully passed qualification testing. The WPQR supports the WPS and provides evidence that the procedure can consistently produce welds that meet the required standards.

A WPS tells the welder how to weld a joint, while the WPQR proves that the procedure has been tested and qualified. In simple terms, the WPQR validates the WPS before it is used in production.

Welding procedure qualification demonstrates that a welding process can consistently produce acceptable welds before it is used in production. Qualification normally involves destructive and non-destructive testing of welded test pieces. The international standard used to qualify welding procedures is ISO 15614 — see key welding standards for more.

Welder qualification is the formal assessment of a welder’s ability to produce welds that meet a recognised standard. Successful qualification provides evidence of competence for defined materials, positions and welding processes.

Welder qualifications help ensure production welds are completed by competent personnel. Many industries require qualified welders for safety-critical applications including construction, pressure vessels and offshore fabrication.

ISO 9606 is the international standard for welder qualification testing. It demonstrates that an individual welder has the practical skills to produce welds to an approved standard, and many fabrication companies require welders to hold valid ISO 9606 qualifications.

ISO 9606 qualifications remain valid provided continuity requirements are maintained and the qualification is endorsed at the required intervals. The exact validity depends on the applicable standard and ongoing verification by the employer or responsible person.

A Welding Coordinator is responsible for overseeing welding activities, ensuring procedures are followed and maintaining quality standards. The role often includes supervision of welder qualifications, welding procedures and inspection requirements.

ISO 14731 defines the responsibilities of welding coordination personnel. It outlines the knowledge and responsibilities required to manage welding activities effectively.

The procedure and the welder are qualified independently but used together. A qualified WPS (validated by its WPQR) sets out how the joint must be welded; a qualified welder demonstrates they can follow it. The welding coordinator ties the two together, ensuring the right welders work to the right procedures and that records stay current. This combination — qualified procedure plus qualified personnel — is what underpins compliant production welding.