What is done when a welding procedure needs qualifying?

• A. A test coupon must be welded and that coupon must then be tested; form completed to verify how the welding was completed as well as to verify testing and test results; this is a PQR.
• B. The welder's resume is updated.
• C. A random sample is taken for quality check.
• D. The machine parameters are logged but no test is required.

Answer: (A)

To qualify a welding procedure you must prove the proposed process can produce an acceptable weld on the intended materials and thickness. This is done by welding a test coupon exactly according to the proposed procedure and then testing it to verify it meets the required criteria. The results, along with details of how the weld was made, are recorded in a Procedure Qualification Record (PQR). If the coupon passes the tests, the PQR validates the procedure, and a Welding Procedure Specification (WPS) can be written to guide production welds so they reproduce the qualified conditions. Other activities like updating a welder’s resume, taking random samples for quality, or simply logging machine parameters without testing do not establish that the procedure will reliably produce acceptable welds.