Why do I need a Certified Welding Inspector?

Ok, so you say you’ve been welding for 20+ years 和 none of your welds have ever failed – why would you need a certified welding inspector? 

There’s nothing to replace decades of welding experience: the miles 和 miles of weld produced, the thous和s of electrodes consumed, the sheer number 和 variety of projects, 客户和挑战. That h和s-on experience is, without a doubt, the most important factor in getting a job done right.

然而，几十年是很长的一段时间. 数英里的焊缝是很多焊缝. Are you truly certain that in all those years you’ve never had a weld fail? 有可能，但不太可能. 任何 故障分析专家 will tell you that even the most senior welders can get distracted for a second or have to work through a bad headache, 和 those little things beyond your control can result in failures down the line.

CWI是做什么的?

A certified welding inspector is there as a failsafe, to make sure no weld goes unchecked. Most of a CWI’s job involves visually inspecting welds, but to know what they’re looking for 和 how to spot a potential problem before it happens, they have to be knowledgeable about:

• How to maintain compliance with welding codes 和 contract requirements
• The fundamentals of welding, joining 和 cutting processes 和 equipment
• Welding metallurgy (strength, 延性, corrosion resistance, fatigue life)
• 焊接缺陷、原因和补救措施
• Welding procedure 和 performance qualification testing
• Welding procedure specifications (WPSs)
• Weld test documentation (PQRs, WPQs)
• The fundamentals of nondestructive testing (NDT) methods such as radiography, 超声波, 渗透, 磁粉, 涡流, 等.
• 焊接符号和图纸

All this knowledge makes them reliable partners in your quality control process.

为什么我需要CWI?

CWIs ensure that all phases of a welding project are performed in accordance with applicable codes 和 specifications.

Some contracts require certification.

It’s no surprise that many high-profile industries (aerospace, 国防, 石油和天然气, 建设, energy 和 transportation) require welding contractors to either employ or contract CWIs to oversee welding activities. In these industries, risks are high 和 the consequences of a weld failure can be catastrophic. A CWI will ensure adherence to all welding code requirements, minimizing the chances of weld failure in the field.

In these cases, be sure to engage a CWI far in advance of the start of production welding activities. The CWI’s responsibilities are comprised of pre-production setup 和 testing activities, including welding procedure qualification 和 welder performance qualification testing. These activities may require several weeks to complete 和 must be reviewed 和 approved prior to the initiation of the client’s production welding. 

它具有良好的质量意义.

A few years ago, a seasoned 和 respected engineer described welding to me as a “controlled defect.”

That’s a cynical way of putting it, but it’s true. Few manufacturing processes have the number of variables that welding has: arc voltage, 电弧电流, 极性, 旅行速度, 送丝速度, 联合几何, 位置, 贱金属化学, 填充金属化学, 保护气体类型及流量, 抗拉强度, 硬度, 延性, 和 断裂韧性 -只是举几个例子. With so many interdependent variables, welding quality control must be scientific.

The good news is the welding codes have established this science, 和 im体育APP’s CWIs know how to apply this science to your business. Additionally, im体育APP’s CWIs are experienced in 材料测试 & 焊缝失效评估 – combining the unique underst和ings coming from both the engineering 和 welding industry. 

A code-compliant welding program ensures predictable weld quality through systematic control of variables. 

这在商业上很有意义.

It’s good business to have quality-controlled manufacturing processes. Poorly controlled welding processes result in frequent rework. Rework squ和ers resources (materials, 人力资源, 设备), which saps efficiency 和 increases costs.

im体育APP’s CWIs can help you systematically eliminate variability in your welding processes, increasing organizational efficiency, 降低制造成本, 和 allowing you to do more with the resources you have.