These three records are often filed together, so it is easy to treat them as interchangeable. They are not. Each answers a different question, and mixing them up can cause confusion during fabrication or an audit.
The WPS tells the welder how to make the weld
A Welding Procedure Specification sets out the variables for production welding. Depending on the governing code and application, it addresses items such as the process, base material, filler metal, joint details, position, electrical parameters, preheat, interpass temperature, and post-weld treatment.
Think of it as the working instruction. A welder should be able to pick up the applicable WPS and understand the approved envelope for the joint—not guess settings from a similar job completed last month.
The PQR records the test that supported the procedure
A Procedure Qualification Record documents what happened when the qualification coupon was welded and tested. It records the actual variables used and the results of the required examinations and mechanical tests.
The PQR is evidence, not a production instruction. It should remain a truthful record of the qualification test. If a value was measured or a test produced a particular result, that is what belongs in the record.
A WPS may be supported by one or more PQRs, depending on the code and the ranges involved. The important point is traceability: the procedure being used on the floor must be supported for the materials, thicknesses, positions, and other essential variables in the production joint.
Welder qualification demonstrates individual performance
A qualified procedure does not automatically qualify every welder to use it. Welder or welding-operator qualification demonstrates that the person can produce a sound weld under the conditions covered by the qualification.
This is why a document review may need to check both procedure coverage and personnel coverage. The joint may be supported by a valid WPS and PQR, while the welder assigned to it still needs the appropriate process, position, material, thickness, or diameter range.
A practical example
Imagine a fabrication team preparing a new pipe joint. The WPS provides the approved welding variables. The PQR shows how the procedure was qualified. The welder’s qualification record shows whether the individual assigned to the joint has the required performance qualification.
If the joint changes materially, all three may need another look. The procedure range may no longer cover it. The existing PQR may not support the revised condition. The welder’s qualification range may also be affected. The governing code and project specification determine the exact requirements.
What to check before production starts
- Use the current approved revision of each document.
- Match the WPS to the actual joint and production conditions.
- Confirm that supporting PQRs cover the relevant variables.
- Check each welder’s identification and qualification range.
- Verify that test reports and qualification records are traceable.
- Record any limitations, client requirements, or additional tests.
Good document control does not replace good welding, but it removes avoidable uncertainty. It also makes inspections and audits much less painful because the project team can show not only which documents exist, but why each one applies.
Kheeran Offshore supports welding engineering and procedure review as well as related inspection and testing. For a document review, send the applicable code, joint details, and current records so the scope can be checked against the real work.