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welder qualification 2

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3lilaggies

Mechanical
May 4, 2006
52
US
Iam trying to setup a welder qualification program where I work. Is there anyone out there that has done this with good results that would be willing to help? Qualified welders can weld for three years on that qualification I think, it's keeping them all up to date the gets me.
 
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I use the local vocational school in central Ohio to train my welders that manufacture axle housings. They use AWS-certifed instructors and work from the textbook "Modern Welding" by Althouse, Turnquist, Bowditch & Bowditch (all AWS members).

As far as testing them, I use AWS D1.1, and choose the particular test plate from the qualification chapter 4 and interpret the results as directed in that chapter. At my plant once a welder passes a plate test he is considered qualified and no other tests are given.

As far as duration, I classify the welders in our gage tracking system to get automatic notifications similar to a gage calibration that is due. I do this on a semi-annual basis since our rule is if you do not perform the welding assignment for longer than 180 days the certification expires. At each semi-annual period I will confirm that each welder is still performing his/her assignment properly.

Otherwise the welder qualification at our plant is indefinite as long as the idle period is not exceeded. It is not a perfect system, we are a union shop and workers can transfer to non-welding assignments and still keep their cert. So I have to make manual entries occasionally to keep the cert dates accurate. This may not work out in the field on code welding but for manufacturing it has been fine and has been accepted by the ISO and QS auditors.
 
Before you decide "how to" qualify your welders you need to determine what code is applicable to your work.

Welders qualified to AWS welding codes are not necessarily qualified for ASME work and vice versa. Likewise, the welders qualified to either AWS or ASME may not meet the requirements of a Navy welding standard.

Each welding code has its own requirements. For instance, AWS D1.1 addresses structural steel. Therefore, it does not apply if you are welding aluminum structures. Likewise, if you qualify your welders to ASME Section IX using radiography to evaluate the test coupons, you would not be able to use that welder for ASME B31.3 for high pressure (as defined by the designer/owner) pipe applications.

So, back to my first statement. Determine what welding codes or standard is applicable for the work being performed. There are a number of companies like mine that provide the services you are looking for.

Best regards - Al
 
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