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WPS, PQR and Welder Qualification in Steel Fabrication
A Welding Procedure Specification (WPS) tells the shop how to make a weld. A Procedure Qualification Record (PQR) records how a qualification test was welded and what its tests showed, where a test-based qualification is required. A welder performance qualification record shows what work the individual welder or operator is qualified to perform under the governing rules.
Which document answers which question?
| Record | What a buyer or inspector checks |
|---|---|
| WPS | The procedure and revision assigned to the joint, including the applicable process and production limits |
| PQR or other permitted basis | The evidence that supports the WPS under the code and edition named in the contract |
| Welder or operator qualification | Whether the person assigned to the work is qualified within the applicable scope and whether continuity records are current when required |
| Weld map or traveller | How production joint IDs are linked to the procedure, personnel and inspection records when the quality plan requires that trace |
Some codes allow a procedure to be prequalified under specified conditions. Check the stated basis and its limits before asking for a PQR. A welder's course certificate is useful background, but the buyer needs the applicable performance qualification evidence for the work being assigned.
Review one production joint before release
Pick a joint that represents an important part of the package, such as a flange splice on a bridge girder. Ask the shop to point out the joint on the released drawing, show the assigned WPS and qualification basis, and identify the qualified personnel. Then locate the inspection or witness stage for the same joint in the quality plan. If the drawing or welding process changes, ask the responsible welding and inspection teams to review the impact before work continues.
This review is about document coverage. The contract and responsible welding team determine the applicable procedures and acceptance requirements. The American Welding Society's sample forms illustrate the different record types. See our steel fabrication quality control guide for the rest of the inspection workflow, or send your welding and inspection requirements with the enquiry.
About Kothari Chemicals (Engineering Division)
The Kothari Chemicals (Engineering Division) at Kothari Chemicals Engineering Division brings decades of combined experience in steel fabrication, quality assurance, and project management. We're committed to sharing knowledge that helps our industry grow.
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