When you outsource fabrication, it’s easy to focus on final product specs, but what happens behind the scenes matters just as much. While quality control involves inspecting and testing finished welds, quality assurance (QA) is a proactive, process-based system.
If you’re trusting a partner with your fabrication work, understanding the basics of QA can protect your investment. Here are five things to know about welding quality assurance to assess a manufacturer’s capabilities and ensure the final product meets expectations.
It Begins With Welding Procedures and Planning
Before any welding occurs, a proper QA process begins with standardized documents, such as welding procedure specifications (WPS). A WPS outlines the materials, gases, temperatures, and techniques required for specific welds.
Alongside WPS, a quality assurance plan (QAP) makes certain that all procedures and inspections are followed throughout the project’s life cycle. When combined, these documents guarantee consistency across projects, particularly in custom welding fabrication, where no two builds are the same.
Certified Welders Ensure the Standard Is Met
Even the best procedures can fall short without skilled execution. That’s why welder certifications matter. A welder performance qualification (WPQ) demonstrates a welder’s ability to execute these processes, verifying that they can handle the materials, techniques, and complexity required by the WPS.
Quality Assurance Happens Before, During, and After the Weld
Unlike quality control, which often comes at the end of production, welding quality assurance spans the entire process. Pre-weld inspections confirm that materials are clean, properly aligned, and matched with the correct procedure.
In-process checks help identify issues such as poor technique, improper heat levels, or contamination before they compromise the final weld. Post-weld evaluations ensure that the weld meets required specs, whether for strength, appearance, or structural integrity, and address any visible defects before final inspection.
Testing Methods Confirm Integrity
Visual inspection is the most common and immediate check after welding, but it’s not always enough. Depending on the application, manufacturers may use destructive testing methods, such as pulling, bending, or cutting the weld, or non-destructive testing (NDT) methods, including ultrasonic, dye penetrant, or magnetic particle inspection.
No matter the method, the goal is always the same: to confirm that the weld performs under real-world conditions.
Even Automated Welding Needs Quality Assurance
Automation and robotic welding systems bring impressive efficiency and consistency to modern fabrication. But even with AI-powered cobots or automated welding arms, quality assurance remains essential. From programming to calibration to final inspection, human oversight confirms that robotic welds meet the same high standards as those of manual welds.
Quality Assurance Protects Your Investment
These five things to know about welding quality assurance demonstrate the numerous aspects that contribute to producing a strong, reliable weld. From upfront planning to post-weld testing, every step reduces the risk of failure, minimizes rework, and ensures that products meet performance requirements.
At SYTECH, we apply this approach to every project, especially when it involves custom fabrication. Contact us today to discover how our welding QA process can enhance the success and safety of your next project.