Quality Digest

Welding Process Qualification – 11/8/05:

I have a question regarding qualifying a welding process. We currently use an automated welding machine from a company called Weld Logic. It is an advanced welding system that has set programs / schedules that are not operator dependent. The operator chooses the weld program to be executed and the program automatically completes the entire weld program that has been preset into the system.

We make approximately 18 different welds using various preset programs.

What methods should be used to validate this process?
 Can a sample of one weld be sent out to a lab for destructive testing to validate the process for all the welds?
 Are there other options for qualifying this process that wouldn’t require sending it out to a lab which can be quite expensive?