Protecting the CWI Stamp
1
just the facts In my work I review and audit welding programs, procedures, and documentation all over the world. Through the years, I have noticed two specific areas where man- ufacturers and AWS Accredited Test Facilities (ATFs) frequently fall short. Both of these areas are extremely important. The first area is in the proper comple- tion of Procedure Qualification Records (PQRs), Welding Procedure Specifications (WPSs), and Welder Qualification Test Records (WQTRs). We need to emphasize proper use and generation of each of these documents in our CWI training. The Examination Question Bank Subcommittee of the AWS Certification Committee has recently increased the number of questions on this subject in the CWI examination. It is important, for example, to understand the difference between filler metal classification and filler metal specification. The second area of particular concern to me is the use of the CWI stamp. In the past, a CWI was issued a stamp when he or she gained that status by successfully completing the examination. If the CWI Certification was revoked or simply allowed to expire, the individual still had what appeared to be a valid CWI stamp and no one was the wiser if the former CWI continued using it, even though AWS did not authorize that use. In the past, I personally observed a case where a WPS had been used after someone obliterated the original informa- tion, except the CWI stamp, with correc- tion fluid, and new, different welding infor- mation was entered. The doctored docu- ment was faxed to me as a valid WPS. The American Welding Society addressed this situation in 2006 when it began issuing red inking pads and stamps that included expiration dates. Today, it is easy to tell if a stamp has expired and if you are looking at an original stamped document or a copy. Most recently, while working in China, I encountered two instances in which PQRs, WPSs, and WQTRs were riddled with incorrect information. In one case, when I questioned the CWI about the inac- curacies, he lacked the knowledge to know that the document was wrong. The second instance occurred at another facil- ity. I reviewed some welding documents that again contained several errors. When I questioned the CWI whose stamp was on the documents about each error, he obvi- ously knew that each was incorrect and why. He stated that the documentation was routinely produced by another per- son, whom he trusted and believed to be knowledgeable. The CWI had then stamped the documents as if he had reviewed them, although, in fact, he had not actually reviewed the information. In both of these cases, the result was incor- rect welding information documentation containing the stamp of a CWI. Here’s what’s important about this: If you did not personally produce or careful- ly review and approve the information, do not put your CWI stamp on it. Your stamp and both of the stamps in the situations I related here look just like mine except for the name and number. Every time some- one misuses or carelessly uses a CWI stamp, it reflects poorly on every CWI and diminishes the respect given to the certifi- cation. Therefore, the value of your stamp and mine is lowered. AWS offers a class on proper use and completion of these documents. If you are not entirely confident that you have it right, take the class. It will count as con- tinuing education units toward your next nine-year CWI renewal. We have all worked hard to gain the recognition that comes with being a Certified Welding Inspector. We must also be diligent and work hard to maintain its value and our integrity. ❖ Protect Your CWI Stamp BY LYNDSEY DECKARD Lyndsey Deckard ([email protected]) is Quality Manager of the Vehicle Division of Parsons Brinckerhoff Transit & Rail Systems, Inc. He is an AWS Senior Certified Welding Inspector, an ASQ Certified Quality Auditor, and a member of the AWS Certification Committee, Examination Question Bank Subcommittee, and Ethics Subcommittee.
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Transcript of Protecting the CWI Stamp
just
the facts
In my work I review and audit weldingprograms, procedures, and documentationall over the world. Through the years, Ihave noticed two specific areas where man-ufacturers and AWS Accredited TestFacilities (ATFs) frequently fall short. Bothof these areas are extremely important.
The first area is in the proper comple-tion of Procedure Qualification Records(PQRs), Welding Procedure Specifications(WPSs), and Welder Qualification TestRecords (WQTRs). We need to emphasizeproper use and generation of each of thesedocuments in our CWI training. TheExamination Question BankSubcommittee of the AWS CertificationCommittee has recently increased thenumber of questions on this subject in theCWI examination. It is important, forexample, to understand the differencebetween filler metal classification and fillermetal specification.
The second area of particular concernto me is the use of the CWI stamp. In thepast, a CWI was issued a stamp when heor she gained that status by successfullycompleting the examination. If the CWICertification was revoked or simplyallowed to expire, the individual still hadwhat appeared to be a valid CWI stampand no one was the wiser if the former
CWI continued using it, even though AWSdid not authorize that use.
In the past, I personally observed acase where a WPS had been used aftersomeone obliterated the original informa-tion, except the CWI stamp, with correc-tion fluid, and new, different welding infor-mation was entered. The doctored docu-ment was faxed to me as a valid WPS.
The American Welding Societyaddressed this situation in 2006 when itbegan issuing red inking pads and stampsthat included expiration dates. Today, it iseasy to tell if a stamp has expired and ifyou are looking at an original stampeddocument or a copy.
Most recently, while working in China,I encountered two instances in whichPQRs, WPSs, and WQTRs were riddledwith incorrect information. In one case,when I questioned the CWI about the inac-curacies, he lacked the knowledge toknow that the document was wrong. Thesecond instance occurred at another facil-ity. I reviewed some welding documentsthat again contained several errors. WhenI questioned the CWI whose stamp was onthe documents about each error, he obvi-ously knew that each was incorrect andwhy. He stated that the documentationwas routinely produced by another per-
son, whom he trusted and believed to beknowledgeable. The CWI had thenstamped the documents as if he hadreviewed them, although, in fact, he hadnot actually reviewed the information. Inboth of these cases, the result was incor-rect welding information documentationcontaining the stamp of a CWI.
Here’s what’s important about this: Ifyou did not personally produce or careful-ly review and approve the information, donot put your CWI stamp on it. Your stampand both of the stamps in the situations Irelated here look just like mine except forthe name and number. Every time some-one misuses or carelessly uses a CWIstamp, it reflects poorly on every CWI anddiminishes the respect given to the certifi-cation. Therefore, the value of your stampand mine is lowered.
AWS offers a class on proper use andcompletion of these documents. If you arenot entirely confident that you have itright, take the class. It will count as con-tinuing education units toward your nextnine-year CWI renewal.
We have all worked hard to gain therecognition that comes with being aCertified Welding Inspector. We must alsobe diligent and work hard to maintain itsvalue and our integrity. �
Protect Your CWI StampBY LYNDSEY DECKARD
Lyndsey Deckard ([email protected]) is Quality Manager of the Vehicle Division of Parsons Brinckerhoff Transit & Rail Systems,Inc. He is an AWS Senior Certified Welding Inspector, an ASQ Certified Quality Auditor, and a member of the AWS CertificationCommittee, Examination Question Bank Subcommittee, and Ethics Subcommittee.
10 • INSPECTION TRENDS
Just the Facts IT Winter 2010:Layout 1 12/22/09 3:48 PM Page 10
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