The eQuaLified program is spearheading efforts to establish a robust and globally recognized system of personnel qualification for Welding Planners with the release of its first
Body of Knowledge (BoK) and
qualification assessment:
Resistance Spot and Seam Welding, Planner. This BoK and assessment aim to fill the current knowledge gap at the planner level (e.g., weld schedule development, operator training, preventative maintenance plan, etc.) that can lead to serious field issues.
The eQuaLified Resistance Spot and Seam Welding, Planner BoK and qualification assessment were developed by leading Welding experts from General Electric, Honeywell Aerospace, Rolls-Royce Corp., TWI Limited, and UTC Aerospace Systems, and are a means of validating the knowledge and capabilities of Resistance Spot and Seam Welding process planners. Successful candidates will verify they are:
- Capable of selecting Resistance Spot and Seam Welding processes and creating and interpreting the process procedures to conform to customer specification and requirements
- Knowledgeable in all aspects of the process, methods and tools
- Able to coach others on content and methods in the context of their workplace
Dr. Richard Freeman, Associate Director of TWI Limited and Chairperson for the eQuaLified Welding Review Board shared what he believes this new qualification means for the aerospace industry:
“This development is a very important step for the aerospace industry. There are significant training programs in place around the world for Welders (Process Operators) and Welding Engineers (Process Owners), but nothing seemed to be available to assist the Process Planner or Manufacturing Engineer. We aim to address this Process Planner gap with other welding processes in the near future, to further support the high level of quality in the aerospace industry.”
Scott Maitland, Manager Materials & Special Processes – Central Quality of UTC Aerospace Systems and Vice-Chairperson of the eQuaLified Welding Review Board also provided his perspective on what this new qualification means for the industry:
“Through this industry managed initiative, it was identified that there are certain welding functions performed at suppliers that lacked consistent training and, therefore, had no uniform certifications. Not only does this program fill these gaps, it also provides a potential means for succession planning in the aerospace workforce. The knowledge that is captured through this BoK and assessment is comprehensive and will benefit the industry.”
The Resistance Spot and Seam Welding, Planner BoK is available on the
eQuaLified website and can be used to prepare for the Resistance Spot and Seam Welding, Planner assessment, develop training programs, or benchmark internal requirements with aerospace industry-accepted criteria.
The Resistance Spot and Seam Welding, Planner online assessment aligns with the BoK content and can be accessed online at the eQuaLified Assessment Center. The price of the online assessment is $300 USD and successful candidates will receive a Certificate of Qualification valid for 5 years.
Additional eQuaLified Welding Planner BoKs and assessments are in development and will soon be available in the areas of Fusion, Electron Beam and Laser Welding.
