If welders only had access to the construction codes, i.e., Section I, Section VIII, B31.1, etc., then they would have the information they need at their finger tips.
Way too many WPSs lists "All fillets and grooves" under the heading of joint details and then management scratches their head and wonders why the components are not welded properly.
I had a client that was beside himself because he said his welders' welds "sucked." I asked him what he meant. He said they didn't know a good weld from a bad weld. I asked him what welding code he was working to. He responded, "We weld to several different codes; ASME, AWS, structural, piping, it changes from one job to the next."
I asked him whether the welders were provided with the acceptance criteria for each project? He said, "No. of course not. They are expected to know a good weld from a bad weld and they are expected to know the code requirements."
I asked if the acceptance criteria was the same for all the codes they welded to. "Of course not. Each has different requirements." was his response.
I asked him how were the welders to know what was acceptable or not if all the codes are different? He responded, "They are welders, they're expected to know."
I pushed a little harder, "Have you provided them with any additional training to teach them the differences between the acceptance criteria of each of the different codes."
"Hell no, I don't provide training to welders. I told you, they're expected to know." he said sounding less sure of himself.
"How long has the average welder worked for you?" I asked.
"About 7-years." was the response.
"You're unhappy because the welders don't know what is required, but you've done nothing to correct the problem in 7-years and you wonder why their quality sucks?" I asked.
It is difficult to get management to understand that welding and knowledge of codes and standards is not genetic. But, the less they know, the more money I make. I am referring to management by the way.
If you don't put the welding requirements on the drawings, you have no one to blame but yourself if the welds are not made as expected. There is no reason not to use welding symbols or sketches to define the extent of welding. Anything less is .... I think you know what I would like to say.
Best regards - Al