You need to look to the contract documents about how inspection is to be documented. In the business I am in, oil and gas, very often there is explicit and detailed requirement of when and how and to whom NCR's are submitted. It also sounds like your company has a mile or two further to go in setting up a complete quality system. Your position, for example, weld shop supervisor (production person) has a direct conflict with your role as the designated welding inspector (quality control person) and wouldn't be allowed under a quality system like ISO or API. A quality person would work for and be answerable solely to the Quality Manager who most usually is a direct report to the CEO or President of the company. IOW, a quality control person should not be responsible to anyone but the Quality Manager and whoever his boss(s) are.  That's the way it ought to be, and is in businesses that must maintain stringent quality standards, but I've worked for other outfits that were less exacting a number of times. So I'll give you my best rule of thumb on documentation and inspection. Don't ever sign off on anything you are certain it meets the required standards and are prepared to say so on the witness stand if called to court to testify. Don't omit negatives (Non Conformance Reports) if they are required by the contract or by your companies policy. I have personally known inspectors sued because something failed at a later date. Of course that's something of a he said/she said situation but it will cost you time and maybe money and is something I would want to avoid. Always remember and never forget more than one or two inspectors have been fired for doing their jobs well, just part of the territory, but usually that's not the outcome. The other thing I would say that it is absolutely essential to have senior management on board. If they won't make and enforce policy that institutes and maintains real quality assurance instead of a sham designed as a sales gimmick, then you have no chance at a real QA/QC program, and personally I would tell "Thanks, but no thanks, I'm not putting my name to documentation that attests to something meeting a certain quality standard when I have no way of being satisfied that it really does." In summation, put another way, you need an environment that allows you to be certain beyond reasonable doubt that you effectively fulfill the requirements of QC-1.

Mac L

The only record keeping requirements in D1.1 are for Welder Performance Qualification, Welder's work frequency record to maintain the qualification, WPS / WPQR records, and NDT related records.   DO NOT GET YOURSELF FIRED OVER THIS!!!!  Your company sets the rules.  Even if the Contract requires special or additional inspection practice or other records, it is not your responsibility to challenge Company rules.   If it is your responsibility to do so, inform management when there is a special requirement, and ask them if you should implement it or ignore it.  If possible, just forget you are a CWI as far as the company practice is concerned.

NOW!!!  Do not burn yourself ethically!   Do not sign off anything that is not done exactly "According to  Hoyle".

Joe Kane

Glad to see that you found us here, Welcome Mac!

Hang in there buddy, as a wise inspector on here once told me..."it takes a little while to get a large oceanliner turned around"
...pick your battles wisely and slowly you will be able to see things turn around for the better. ...(thank you Chet Guildford!)

Just don't get frustrated because it doesn't happen overnight. The lack of quality costs your company money, so every chance that you get to get a plug in for stepping up the quality in an area of inspection, either through training your welders, or ramping up an area of inspection until things get under control to where you can live with them, the better. I have a couple welders that I have to babysit and I'm sure every weld shop is like that, but be encouraged when you see some of the welders who take additional steps to make sure what they do is the best job they can do for your company.

Is there a slim chance that you can work with your welders either one on one or in a group for just a few minutes and just go over Table 6.1  and Figure 5.4 and show them what the acceptance criteria is and what the minimums for passing a weld are, so they can help you? I'm willing to bet that there are a few welders will will take the ball and run, once they know what is expected of them.

Give me a call or email me when you get a chance to talk. I'm willing to bet that every new CWI has had their moments where they feel like the quality ship is sinking and they are the only ones who bothered to pick up a bucket to start bailing water.

You are between a rock and a hard place trying to wear both hats as the Production Supervisor and QA/QC Representative for your company.  However it can be done.  As an AWS CWI you studied and passed the 1st chapter pertaining to ethical standards.  Keep strong to those and your own consciencious.

When it comes to inspecting work for that D1.1 customer, you should read the requirements set forth in the awarded PO and the drawings specifications.  If the dwg states that all welding shall be done in accordance with AWS D1.1 (or any other code or standard) then you are obligated to inspect accordingly.  As far as documentation is concerned, that should be spelled out by the customer along with any other requirements such as NDE.

I am fortunate in that I work in an ASME certified facility with a QC Manual that states my status and requirements.

Good luck to ya,
QCRobert

What does the QC manual say.
and contract.