Audit and Certification of quality management system according to ISO 3834 – quality requirements for fusion welding of metallic materials.

Processes such as fusion welding are widely used to manufacture many products. In some companies, they are the key feature of production. Products can range from simple to complex. Examples include pressure vessels, domestic and agricultural equipment, cranes, bridges, transport vehicles and other items.

These processes exert a profound influence on the cost of manufacture and quality of the product. Therefore, it is important to ensure that these processes are carried out in the most effective way and that appropriate control is exercised over all aspects of the operation.

It is emphasized that the ISO 3834 series is not a quality management system (QMS) standard replacing ISO 9001:2015. However, it can be a useful tool when ISO 9001:2015 is applied by manufacturers. Specification of quality requirements for welding processes is important because the quality of these processes cannot be readily or economically validated. Therefore, they are considered to be special processes as noted by ISO 9000:2015.

Quality cannot be inspected into a product: quality needs to be built in. Even the most extensive and sophisticated non-destructive testing does not improve the quality of the product. For products to be free from serious problems in production and in service, it is necessary to provide controls, from the design phase, through material selection, into manufacture and subsequent inspection. For example, poor design can create serious and costly difficulties in the workshop, on site or in service. Incorrect material selection can result in problems, such as cracking in welded joints. To ensure sound and effective manufacturing, management needs to understand and appreciate the sources of potential trouble and to implement appropriate procedures for their control. The ISO 3834 series identifies measures that are applicable for different situations. Typically, they can be applied in the following circumstances:

• in contractual situations: specification of welding quality requirements
• by manufacturers: establishment and maintenance of welding quality requirements
• by committees drafting manufacturing codes or application standards: specification of welding quality requirements
• by organizations assessing welding quality performance, e.g. third parties, customers or manufacturers

The ISO 3834 series can be used by internal and external organizations, including certification bodies, to assess the manufacturer’s ability to meet customer, regulatory or the manufacturer’s own requirements.