Thanks Tim. I appreciate you taking the time and input.

Thanks for the input, so far that is my plan of attack. Just working out the timeline. Hearing nothing but good things about RE.

Thanks Al. I appreciate everybody's input.

The SCWI has demonstrated proficiency in developing WPSs, qualifying WPS, and a demonstrated proficiency in quality control system that is lacking with the CWI credential.

In the past, before the SCWI credential was available, CWIs were expected to perform tasks for which they had little if any competence. For example, they were expected to qualify WPSs, but they had no training in the development of WPSs. They were expected to perform guided bend tests on metals other than carbon and low alloy steels. They are ill prepared to do so. They were expected to perform audits with no training or demonstrated proficiency in quality control programs. The SCWI sought to rectify those deficiencies.

The SCWI has demonstrated proficiency in performing many of the tasks the CWI was simply not qualified to do. That doesn't mean that with additional training and experience the CWI can't perform those tasks, it simply means they have not taken the requisite examinations to require them to demonstrate the knowledge to perform those tasks.

It is like the drivers license one gets in the US. Many drivers have the basic license to drive a family car from here to there, but they lack the knowledge and experience to drive a tractor trailer on the public roads. For that, the driver must demonstrate the ability to handle the big rigs, i.e., demonstrated proficiency. Does that mean the individual driving the family car doesn't have the ability to drive the big rigs? No, it simply means they haven't passed the required driver's examinations to allow them to legally operate the big rigs on the public highways.

As for giving up the SCWI credential in favor of the CWI, why not give up the CWI as well and become a day laborer? There is always a demand for a day laborer as long as they are willing to work for less than the other fellow.

I agree there are many clients that do not understand the difference between the CWI and the SCWI, but that problem exists in all walks of life. It is only with time and experience people will learn the SCWI can perform in rolls the CWI is ill prepared to perform.

I can provide many examples of situations were CWIs performed tasks that were beyond their capability. I can't recount how many WPSs I have rejected that were written by newbie CWIs because they didn't understand the mechanics of writing or qualifying a WPS, especially when working with ASME or military standards. Working with AWS D1.1 is pretty much cookie cutter work, but even there I've seen horrendous mistakes made by CWIs that simply had no clue about what they were doing. It proved very costly to the company that engaged their services and ended up giving the CWI program a black eye. However, the company decided to hire the less qualified individual for less money and they got burned in the process. It is no different than the customer that uses the services of a newbie welder with limited skills instead of paying the little extra money the more highly skilled welder demands. Then the customer complains about the shoddy workmanship of the welded repair that failed after a few hours of use. Ultimately, the customer goes back to the more qualified welder who then charges to remove the poor quality welds and repairs the broken implement properly. The customer ends up paying three times as much as he would have if he went to the qualified welder to begin with.

Welder qualification is another problem area. I recently settled a court case in favor of my client because the CWI didn't even complete the welder qualification test report correctly. The WQTR is a legal document. If it is incorrect, the company loses. In this case they paid a couple of million dollars to my client because of a structural failure attributed to poor welding. The fact that the WQTR was incorrect made it easy to make the argument the welders were not properly qualified, hence they shouldn't have been allowed to weld on the project. The lawyer asked it would be permitted to test the welders after the fact to show they were in fact skilled welders. I ask the lawyer how many cases was he allowed to present in court before he passed his Bar Exams. Case closed, pay the man.

No one asks questions until someone gets hurt and the lawyers come out of the wood work. In the event of a failure, it will be difficult indeed for the CWI that screws up to defend himself or his employer or the client that hired him as a consultant if one simply uses table 1 in AWS B5.1 as the guide of what a CWI is qualified to do versus what the SCWI is qualified to do. 

I'll be honest with you, I don't get every job I quote. I charge more than any CWI/SCWI I know. However, most of my clients come back because I save them money in the long run. Those people that hire based on price alone are the people I would rather avoid.

Is the SCWI overkill? I don't believe it is, but I am biased. You get what you pay for.

Best regards - Al