Hi Everyone,
I'm a relatively new CWI up in Canada and we don't often work to AWS D1.1 which puts a limit on the amount of inspections I perform. I work full time as an engineer/project manager for a company and also perform inspections for my company to certify some of our equipment to AWS D1.1, when the particular job requires it.
I have very recently learned that a CWI is a powerful certification to have and goes far beyond AWS D1.1 (that's the seminar I took) but I'm not educated on what else we are able to inspect (endorsements and additional certifications not included). Any experience to share would be a great benefit. We don't have many CWIs up here to learn from, so it would be great to get some feedback! I can't seem to find any easy answers in terms of a list of codes we can inspect to or how our CWI certification is equivalent to other codes' inspectors. Thanks a lot
What can a CWI really inspect? We have the power!
Pretty much anything from a fence post, to a Briggs and Stratton muffler, to Interstellar Space craft.
What do YOU as a human being, CWI and professional feel comfortable putting YOUR NAME on?
What are you comfortable with signing YOUR NAME on that your self, daughter, mother or anyone else would trust their life to?
Think carefully before answering...
Welcome to the Club.
we need a "like" button for comments like that
Jordan
WELCOME TO THE AWS WELDING FORUM!!
The CWI is indeed a powerful tool. But it is not the person with the power, it is the reputation of the achievement due to the respect earned in previous years by all those who have gone before us. It is a tool to earn a good income if used properly and a tool to protect the public from those who would take advantage of the opportunity to cut corners with good procedures and safety.
As has already been said, the sky, actually space, is the limits to what you can do. From the depths of the ocean to the outermost space, welding is involved and inspections takes a part.
Having a CWI can get your foot in the door regardless, for the most part, of the code. From there you have to apply yourself to the exact application and code involved and make a name for yourself.
Have a Great Day, Brent
Hi friend,
I notice that, you only have had contact with AWSD1.1. I recommend you to obtain the ASME SECTION IX code for Brazing and Welding. I aslo obtained a great experience with ASME B31.3 and B31.1. Also API Standards. These standards, will give you a broad tool to understand how and what to inspect in the field or shop.
Best regards !
David Alvarado AWS CWI/CWE
As I recall there is a "code of ethics" for the welding inspector and yes you are pretty much unlimited in what the CWI will let you inspect. But if I recall correctly the code of ethics does indicate that you should only accept work if you have background or knowledge in the area for which you are supposed to inspect. For instance my background is pipe inspection and vessel inspection and more specifically natural gas transmission pipelines and related facilities. I had been in the industry for 7 years as a radiographer and welding inspector when the AWS started giving the test in 1976. I would not accept a job doing structural work unless I was working closely with someone who did have a background and knowledge in that area. As far as being able to read, understand, and apply codes and customer specifications I don't think there would be any problem but I don't think it would be ethical for me to accept a job and represent myself as a structural inspector without some background in the area.
Since I am talking about ethics there is a requirement that you have a certain amount of experience in welding or a related field before even applying or registering to take the test. I had the privilege of reviewing resumes of proposed CWI's for projects for my previous company and even having to "weed" out inspectors that had been sent to some of the jobs I worked on. Some of these guys did have CWI cards but they were not welding inspectors. I received one inspector on the job that did have some pipe welding inspection background but it was for offshore drilling and production platforms. I received one resume where the CWI had welded for several years but had spent the last 15 years driving a fork lift. I didn't feel that his recent background or past background (he had welded on what I would say were box containers, structural, that were not pressure containing vessels. I could not in good conscience accept either as an inspector for natural gas pipeline work.
I now work as a contract inspector and my ethics have not changed. Don't offer me a job doing structural work, I don't want the bridge or building you may be on or in falling down because of my lack of experience.
Some people apply for the test then go to an intensive training program, study hard, and pass the test and are bestowed the title of Certified Welding Inspector with no or very little background. the AWS does not properly vet the applicants for the test. It is, after all, a revenue generator, right.
Unfortunately, ASNT does the same thing with their Level II's, and Level III's. Study hard enough and you can pass their tests and never have performed an exam of materials.
Like it or not, ethics do mean something to some of us. Hope I haven't stepped on too many toes but I believe any welder appreciates an inspector who has the background and knowledge to help them if they get in a tight spot. And I do appreciate all those welders who also helped me along the way, Thank You.
By the way, Congratulations on your difficult accomplishment.
By hvymax 
Date 10-22-2013 15:37
Edited 10-22-2013 15:44
I understand where you are coming from and you do need to understand what you are doing but almost every project you undertake will have a learning curve. As CWI's we generally have a wide and varied knowledge of welding. I have spent most of my non welder time either in a QC role or teaching or testing for an AWS ATF. We need to become aware of the means of evaluating and documenting whatever we are responsible for but it is not rocket science. We interpret to the code in front of us. Some of us become a little specialized depending on our exposure but really it all seems pretty much the same. I have taught and tested everything from D9-unlimited D1 and GTAW root unlimited pipe. Someday I will add UT/MT/RT creds if needed but those are just a few classes. After passing the CWI everything else seems easy. I agree totally on the background thing. I had 20years of experience from labratory process pipe to structural mostly leading projects before becoming a CWI came up. You should have a background before being allowed to Inspect or Teach. What can somebody teach who has never gotten out there and done it? Some of my classes I feel like the Hogwarts sorting hat. I can tell the fitters from the rivet heads or sheetmetal workers and fabricators after 30+ years in the trades.
The CWI credential is simply an attestation that the holder of the credential has met the basic qualifications required of an individual that will be performing visual examination of welds. It is not stating the holder is an expert, it simply is a statement that the individual has the basic knowledge and ability to perform visual examinations of welds to a welding standard.
The position taken by AWS is that reading and applying a code or standard is a skill that is transportable. That is, if the individual has demonstrated the ability to use a code, that skill can be applied to any other code. It does not state the individual is an expert in the use or application of a code or standard. With study and experience, a CWI should be able to use his or her skills to use different welding codes and standards.
This philosophy is no different from that of the Professional Engineer. The engineer that meets the qualification requirements is offered the opportunity to sit for the examinations. The engineer that successfully completes the examinations is then registered as a PE once the appropriate fees are paid to the appropriate state agency. The P.E. is recognized as meeting certain requirements and has demonstrated a level of expertise in a specific field of engineering. It does not mean the PE has a mastery of all engineering disciplines. The PE is expected to recognize the limitations of his expertise and to call in specialist where his skills are deficient. The CWI is no different. When the CWI recognizes he lacks the expertise needed to perform a job function, he is expected to get additional help or decline the assignment.
While the AWS takes the position that the skill is transportable, some Owners have not accepted that philosophy. They require the CWI to demonstrate mastery of a welding standard that is comparable to that used on their work or some insist the CWI to demonstrate proficiency with the specific welding code/standard used on their projects. The AWS Certification Committee responded to the Owner's demands and instituted the concept of endorsement examinations so the CWI can demonstrate the required proficiency without having to take the entire CWI examination again.
The CWI credential certifies the CWI as a visual welding inspector. It does not certify the individual as structural steel inspector. It does not certify the CWI to inspect high strength bolts. It does not certify the CWI to interpret radiographs. The endorsements available through AWS do give the CWI a means of demonstrating a minimum level of mastery to perform those additional job junctions. The endorsements are additional certifications available to the CWI to expand their job opportunities and to meet the demands of the market.
Best regard - Al
I think you are agreeing with what I said. An inspector should not take a job in an area where he has no experience or knowledge. Now if the inspector can work another inspector who has that experience and knowledge I have no problem with that. We all, after all, started at the bottom. I'm just offering some advice to a new CWI. We should all be able to interpret the code or standard to which we are working, after all we did pass the CWI exam using their representation of a standard. And I understand your reference to a PE. Worked with them for many years. but I also received drawings approved for construction for mechanical assemblies that had been engineered by individuals whose background was all electrical engineering. So I have some experience with the saying "an engineer is an engineer". I can't say that from my experience the saying is always true just as I would not say an "CWI is a CWI". I believe you have indicated as much in your thread.
I hope you understand where I am coming from. I would have no problem with accepting a CWI with no background in the area that I was working in. But, I would want to be able to assign that individual to work with a CWI who is familiar with the welding work. In fact, I have done that. Most of the time the ability to do that was not available. Even RT companies sent me new Level II's because they knew I would help them with both interpretation and weld inspection even though we had CWI's on the job. Did I have an ASNT Level II or III, no, just many, many years of experience and written approval from my employer.
We are on the same page in many respects.
Al
