What is a welding procedure description (WPS)?

The compulsory implementation of execution standards in certain fields of activity has strongly reinforced the requirements of the customers which oblige the manufacturers to work with a welding quality system (e.g.: in iso 3834) in which the qualification of the operating modes becomes a crucial element.

The compulsory implementation of execution standards in certain fields of activity has strongly reinforced the requirements of the customers which oblige the manufacturers to work with a welding quality system (e.g.: in iso 3834) in which the qualification of the operating modes becomes a crucial element. Therefore, each type of welding gives rise to a welding procedure descriptionWPS) which in turn refers to a preliminary welding procedure qualificationPQR). The main objective of the WPS is therefore to ensure a level of quality. The WPS contains all the information a welder needs to manage a welding job. They are the basis for all quality welds. The technical content of the WPS is determined in detail with standards such as nf en iso 15609-1 and asme section ix. Nevertheless, the procedures vary from company to company and project to project.

What information is contained in a welding procedure description?

In a Descriptif de Mode Opératoire de Soudage, we find the necessary information for the preparation before welding, the settings of the welding machine, and the information on the materials used (filler metal and welded materials).

When should a welding procedure description WPS be written?

WPS is also possible to take an old welding procedure qualification already obtained and adapt it.

Who is affected by the drafting of a WPS?

The welding manager, qualified welder, inspector and controller are the people who will be affected by the WPS.

Is the welding procedure description mandatory?

The WPS is mandatory if a company wants to validate a welding procedure qualificationPQR) and also to qualify a welder. The welder will have to know how to interpret a Descriptif de Mode Opératoire de Soudage and also respect the instructions to carry out the weld(s) in accordance with the WPS.

What does sirfull™ welding software bring to WPS?

SIRFULL™ Welding software is positioned here as the ideal solution for WPS production. It allows to:

• Easily process and manage existing data and information required from a WPS due to its clarity and the volume of detailed information it allows to process,
• Create through a logical process a relevant welding procedure description in a very short time,
• Also have a large database of base materials, filler materials, gases, electrodes and sketches,
• Simplify the work considerably and save precious time compared to manual creation.
• Improve efficiency in the management of welding procedures.

Simply put, SIRFULL™ Welding makes it easy, fast and reliable to create and track Welding Procedure Descriptions.

To remember

With the new generation of powerful technical software such as SIRFULL™ WeldingSIRFULL™, the creation of WPS is done with a considerable saving of time.

→ Discover SIRFULL™ Welding

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To go further

→ How to integrate PQR, WPQR (Welder Qualifications, Welding Operators), WPS manually at project startup?

→ Writing a WPS from a reference PQR (with Welding Cloud).