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Requirements for QA/QC in Weld & Inspection Roles

Did you know that in the world of engineering and Welding Inspection, organisations are increasingly expecting their employees in existing roles and new employment contracts/contractors to have a professionally recognised ISO 9001 Lead Auditor qualification?

Why is that, you may well ask?

The Welding and Inspection technical sector is clearly looking to ensure its members can interrogate the welding process and documentation which comes with it, to the required standard as effectively as welding output. This makes sense to this observer, as a common objective with Management Systems it is to ensure that they are embedded into an aligned strategy and operation. 

It’s then befitting that professional development within a sector promotes embedding Management Systems knowledge and Auditing skills, in its community of professionals 

@John Golightly, Eng-Tec – TechWeldI - PCQI, a member of UK Engineering Council and Welding Institute recently attended an IRCA registered ISO 9001:2015 Lead Auditor training course, “Auditor Qualifications are seen in job specifications throughout the oil & gas & renewable energy sector and across the QA/QC inspection criteria where projects are requiring additional qualification to allow inspection teams to carry out internal and external auditing.”

John continues, “With the ever-increasing demand for high standards of quality within organisations, ISO 9001 is the recognised standard. This ensures good returns from a professional reporting system internally or externally … an ISO 9001 auditing qualification has become a regular request by companies & organisations for quality inspectors.”

@Steven Davison of Davison Inspection Ltd also recently attended an ISO 9001:2015 Lead Auditor course for the same reason, “what I am noticing is that more quality engineer and some inspection positions in regards to welding are now asking for some sort of auditing experience……as a quality inspector becoming a competent auditor you need experience, which only comes over time and as I have been a senior QA/QC inspector for 12 years now I have gained this experience but completing the ISO 9001 lead auditor course just gives you that extra detailed skillset to prepare, conduct and complete a professional audit with confidence to any specific specification or process.”

David White, iqms Learning senior tutor explains further, “this shift in expectations in the welding inspection quality control profession makes total sense; develop the competence and capability of qualified weld inspection professionals to be able to audit and challenge the effectiveness of complex welding management systems and processes. By combining the professional skills of lead auditing with welding technical competence the QC weld inspection profession will instantly add value to its business.”

Iqms Learning provide a wide range of CQI & IRCA accredited learning, which can now be delivered remotely. Contact us for further information, enquiries@iqmslearning.co.uk.

by Helen GreenFeb 19 2021
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