Weld Inspection laboratories of Michigan is a proud member and affiliate of the;
American Welding Society (AWS)
American Petroleum Institute (API)
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT)
International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
Our staff came from the background of machining, welding and fabrication for government defense projects. We understand the importance of code compliance and that attention to detail matters.
From reviewing documents to testing welds we've got you covered. Our extensive code book library is constantly updated monthly to adhere to the requirements of the most recent published versions. Our welding and testing equipment is new and the industry standard for qualification of welding procedures and welding personnel.
About & Q&A
Common Questions
Many of our projects start with the same kinds of questions:
“Do we really need a procedure for this weld?”,
“Is a visual inspection required?”, or
“We already have a WPS from a different project—why do we have to qualify a new one?”
These are common misunderstandings. Codes, standards, and project specs often require more than what you can see in the contract documents. We help sort out what is actually required, what is optional, and what is simply a myth.
Codes, Standards, Specifications
In welding, codes, standards, and specifications all work together, but they are not the same thing.
• Codes are legal or contract‑enforced rules. They set the minimum safety and quality requirements for how something must be designed, built, and inspected. Examples include AWS D1.1, ASME Section IX, and API 1104. Many projects and jurisdictions require that work be done “in accordance with” a specific code.
• Standards are agreed‑upon technical practices. They give detailed guidance on materials, dimensions, test methods, and workmanship, but they do not have the force of law by themselves. A standard becomes mandatory only when it is referenced by a code, specification, or contract.
• Specifications are project‑ or company‑specific requirements. They tell you exactly how a particular job must be done, often by adding to or tightening the rules in the applicable codes and standards. Specifications may cover things like which WPS's to use, what inspection hold points apply, and what acceptance criteria are allowed.
In simple terms: codes set the minimum legal or contract requirements, standards describe recognized technical practices, and specifications define how those rules are applied on a specific project or within a specific organization.
PQR, WPS, WPQ Explained
What Exactly Do We Do?
Our business was created for the need of creating and maintaining proper records for our clients. These records include PQR’s WPS’s and WPQ’s.
What are these documents you may ask?
In order, the Procedure Qualification Record (PQR) comes first. This is your weld test to prove base metals, filler metals, welding position, welding process, joint design etc. all meet the qualification criteria in the corresponding code or specification. Next comes the Welding Procedure Specification (WPS), we reference the list of essential variables in the code and any other qualification criteria to create a “welding range.” This information is based off of the test on the PQR and given a working tolerance by the code. This provides the welders on the shop floor to create satisfactory welds while staying within the specification limits that the WPS provides. Data in this WPS will include types of joints qualified; range of welding positions, range of base metal thickness, range of amperage or voltage, shielding gas mixtures etc. Lastly is the Welder Performance Qualification (WPQ). This document proves that the welder himself is qualified to do the welding on the WPS.
Common Questions & Misconceptions