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Welding-codesand other Quality requirementsSOLUTIONS with Effective, Powerful AdviceWelding-codes meeting is needed for Quality implementation. When built into the product, Quality is not an expense Can you assess the Quality of your welded Production? Implementing Quality is NOT scrapping defective parts! Of the three essential parameters for measuring the success of an industrial operation
Therefore much attention must be dedicated to Quality Assurance. What is in here for me? Welding Codes are documents establishing legal obligations spelled out through laws and rules to be complied with whenever engaging in the manufacture of certain constructions regulated by the appointed Authority. In other words Welding-codes are laws covering minimum mandatory requirements essential to guarantee public safety and reliability of large structures. Important AnnouncementSee our New Page on Metals Knowledge for assembling at no cost an Encyclopedia Online, a rich collection of valuable information on Metals, from expert Internet sources.
Some of the regulated items, object of law enforcement by means of Welding-codes, are grouped in two types:
Welding Specifications cover requirements for voluntary adoption and no enforcement is meant unless they are agreed upon between procuring agency and contractor as spelled out in a Purchase Order. One could say that Welding-codes are essentially enforced Specifications. Welding Standards cover industry agreed upon conventions like definitions of terms and of symbols as used in the industry for conveying information. Welding Recommended Practices reflect the recommendations of some of the most knowledgeable professionals in the field with the purpose of helping people improve the practical implementation of different techniques and procedures and obtain best results. One should always inquire which Authority is in charge of safety in the particular place, and which are the latest binding Welding-codes applicable to the construction considered. The contractor should understand Welding-codes as they represent legal obligations between the manufacturer and the purchaser (or owner).
It is accepted knowledge that Welding codes Quality starts with design. Design, as a major factor establishing Quality, is an essential subject addressed by Welding-codes, either directly or by reference to another document. A perceptive Management should be alert to Design influence on Quality, and should make sure to implement the best possible Design. Material selection is part of the design process, but should be addressed by involving materials experts, as it is quite impossible for designers, even exceptionally good ones, to be able to cover adequately all aspects of Materials Engineering and Welding. On this subject see an article of ours by clicking on For more information click on Welding Design. A broad definition of quality Welding-codes should be understood. Qualification is the whole of the process to be performed, as required by Welding-codes, in order to obtain approval from the appointed Authority as to safety and serviceability of the welded structures manufactured. Welding-codes typically require that qualification include demonstrating successful testing of test pieces representing welding procedures, and also compliance with requirements designed to assess the proficiency of the welders involved. The documents demonstrating the adherence to all the conditions required and the correct results of all specified tests are called Certifications. Your economic success will be improved if you refresh the meaning of some of these concepts related to Welding-codes Quality. You can
The evolution of the concepts of Quality Assurance as referred to in the practice of Welding-codes, reflects trends that originated from the most exacting requirements concerning high risk applications for nuclear, submarine and aerospace fields and that later spread to the whole industry. The practice of assuring the Welding codes Quality of any manufacturing, service or commercial activity took the form of voluntary or imposed adherence to the international specifications spelled out in the official documents known as ISO 9000 (and other numbers of this series). For direct exposure to these documents explore the site at http://www.iso.ch/
To sum up the philosophy of the whole concept of Welding Codes, one could say that full control is to be obtained by strict adherence to all the elements that build confidence in successful operations, as briefly outlined in the following. A Company or Enterprise wishing to be approved is requested to set up a Quality Manual, a programmatic engagement of top management establishing lines of authority and responsibilities. These are specifically involving also the various levels of intermediate management. The major elements specified by quality management systems are often the same process control provisions addressed in Welding-codes and standards. Consultants are available whose job is to prepare, for a fee, any shop or firm to abide to the above specifications by preparing all required documentation, assisting the customer and following through the process of Certification conducted by an independent recognized Agency. The quality level of the job and the reference to Welding-codes is assigned by the engineering function. It should be just what is needed to assure correct performance in service: not more, not less. For the contractor, Quality means An Article on Quality Assurance in Welding was included in the January 2005, Issue # 017 of Practical Welding Letter. To read the article click on PWL#017. To receive regularly by e-mail at no cost the periodic publication above, please Subscribe. A thorough treatment of the subject of Welding Quality was addressed in Chapter 13 in the ninth edition of the AWS Welding Handbook, Vol.1. See The subject is also treated in the section on Joint Evaluation and Quality Control beginning at page 1073
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