I am a recent mechanical engineering grad and am working in a truck rebuild facility as a manufacturing engineer. I have very minimal welding experience, although I understand the principles and science of common processes from a classroom-studies perspective. One of my tasks is maintaining our welder certifications to several WPSs, including D1.1, D1.2, D1.3, etc. Currently I'm trying to determine whether we are compliant with AWS B2.1 for a contract we are bidding on, but I really don't understand the language spoken in AWS standards. In my search for training on this topic I watched some AWS online seminar demos for welding fundamentals, but it appears to cover principles I already am familiar with, without improving my understanding of making sense of AWS standards.

Now that I've described my situation, can anyone offer advice on the following:

How could one go about learning to understand and interpret AWS standards and specifications?

What does AWS B2.1 actually specify? It reads like a specification for developing and testing to standard weld procedures; for example, B2.1 provides the applicable information that is required to be on a WPS and a suggested format for presenting this info, but it doesn't appear to define actual weld procedure requirements.

I know this is a forum for working professionals and I hope this does not fall too close to a "homework" question, but I feel like I'm stuck somewhere between "understanding basic fundamentals" and the next level where I need to be able to comprehend AWS documents and make sure their requirements are being carried out. Any input is greatly appreciated, thanks!

You might consider sitting in on an AWS CWI review seminar. It is a one week course that is divided into three parts. I suggest taking the D1.1 Structural Welding Code/Steel, the Welding Inspection Technology, and the Visual Inspection Technology seminars (included in the full one week seminar).

You could also consider taking the ASME short course titled PD359 - Practical Welding Technology. It covers the basics and includes the fundamentals of qualifying a WPS.

Best regards - Al