Question
Recently one of our business units had an ISO 9001: 2008 audit and during the audit they received a couple NCRs on welding as a special process.
One of the NCRs was “Some welders are not qualified prior to welding on product.”
As a matter of fact, our company has developed its own qualification program based on the our needs consisting of the following steps:
– The minimum requirement of least 2 years or more experience as a welder before starting the job.
– In class training for weld specifications, blue print reading, equipment, weld supplies, visual acceptance/ rejection criteria and equipment TPM program conducted by our QE.
– Hands on exam – the result of this test is reviewed by a QE and weld supervisor without performing any bend test, pull test or other types of DT.
– Annual recertification program based on a written exam and weld coupons visual inspection results.
The CB auditor is asking us to send the coupons out to a certified lab for bend testing or having all the welders certified by AWS. Is that required per ISO 9001? As a side note, every time we design and develop a new model we conduct all types of crash tests, FEA and durability testing in design validation phase.
Answers
From George Hummel:
I would not accept the auditor’s comments. He/she is consulting.
From Charles Cianfrani:
No. It appears that the CB auditor is adding requirements. The organization has a process, and if it is effectively implemented that should be satisfactory evidence of conformity.
For more on this topic, please visit ASQ’s website.
