Hi Tommy!
First off, thanks a lot for your - as ususal - excellent input!
Very good and above all, very reasonable points!
You know, there was - at least in my eyes - another great discussion just a few days ago in the forum (
http://www.aws.org/cgi-bin/mwf/topic_show.pl?pid=108382#pid108382).
There, especially, two very appreciated fellows - the first one was is an outstanding welder and the other one is an outstanding NDE-expert - had a fantastic discourse about codes, quality, productivity (Git R Done) etc.
This discussion had a great and particularly sustaining impact on myself due to showing the two inseparable sides of the same medal. On the one, the welding itself being performed by a highly expertised and qualified welder and on the other, the responsibility of even that one who has - even as well by his extraordinary experience - to accomplish what you have so terrifically stated as you said:
"NDT will only insure that certain defects are not present(...)"
Both of those have - at least in my humble understanding - spoken the same language.
Why? Since the first one has made a predication which I like very much and I would like to quote hereinafter as well:
"Crazy = you get what you pay for? Yes, I "get er done", because I can. To code, to xray specs, to uv specs, to bend/shear specs, but most importantly to my own specs..............(...)"
Everything starts with the very own personal attitude of each one who is welding - i.e. the welder him- or herself, respectively - and ends finally with the attitude of that one who has to have an "eye" upon what's been carried out by the welder - i.e. the NDE responsible.
And I mean there is the great difference between the "SWIAR" shops (acc. to Joe Kane) and welders, and those ones which are proving autonomy day by day, by creating, surveying and following WPS's which are tailored for even the level of manufacturing the one is working on.
At the end of the day, if I understood correctly what all of you appreciated fellas have responded and explained, the WPS is just one - but nonetheless a crucial - link in a chain which achieves its strength only by the fact, that everybody who is "using the chain for carrying a great load" is aware of what he or her is doing and what his or her responsibility is.
You Tommy, if you allow me to say this, have proven your responsibility exactly the same way as all the other great people did, who have responded to this my humble question of what a WPS is truly worth, by saying:
"(...)I get seriously aggravated when I see guys take "shortcuts", but I have come to realize the only way I will save myself the aggravation is to work alone everyday and just worry with what I am working on.(...)".
And it's good to know that, when I' ll have to do a business trip next time and will take a seat in an Aircraft! :-)
Thanks again and best regards,
Stephan