Is there a difference between a QC program and a welding quality plan?

Yes. The QC program is the standing documentation that shows how a fabricator generally manages quality — procedures, organization, training, equipment. A welding quality plan is project-specific: it identifies the applicable WPSs, the qualified welders assigned, the NDE scope, and the hold points for that particular job.

Does AWS D1.1 require a written welding quality plan?

AWS D1.1 does not use the phrase 'welding quality plan,' but the combined requirements of Clause 6 (inspection and qualification records), Clause 7 (stud welding), and AISC Chapter N (if the contract invokes AISC 360) collectively mandate the same information in written form. A project-specific plan organizes that documentation in one place.

Who approves the welding quality plan on an AISC-certified project?

On most structural projects, the fabricator's QC manager (often a CWI or CWE) prepares the plan. The engineer of record or owner's QA inspector reviews it before production begins. AISC Chapter N requires the fabricator to have a QC plan — approval authority depends on the project's inspection and testing requirements.

Do seismic projects need a more detailed welding quality plan?

Yes. Projects in Seismic Design Category D through F invoke AWS D1.8 in addition to D1.1. The quality plan must identify demand-critical welds, confirm that filler metals meet CVN toughness requirements per the applicable table, and list the additional inspection hold points AWS D1.8 imposes. The plan for a seismic SMF project is substantially more detailed than one for a conventional braced frame.

Nov 3, 20266 min read

Structural Welding Quality Plan: AISC Chapter N Requirements

AISC Chapter N requires fabricators to maintain a QC program, but projects also need a welding quality plan specific to the job. Here is what it must contain.

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AISC Chapter N of the Specification for Structural Steel Buildings (AISC 360) sets quality control and quality assurance requirements for structural steel fabrication and erection. It assigns specific responsibilities to the fabricator's QC staff and to the owner's independent QA inspector, and it requires the fabricator to operate a documented QC program.

What Chapter N does not hand you is a project-specific welding quality plan. That document — the one that translates the general QC program into specific, actionable requirements for a particular building or structure — must be assembled by the fabricator's CWI or QC manager for each job.

This article describes the components of that plan, why each one matters, and how to assemble them before the first arc strike.

Why a Project-Specific Plan Matters

A fab shop's general QC program documents how the shop handles welding in the abstract: what process the shop uses, how WPSs are controlled, how welders are tracked. It is written for AISC certification maintenance, not for a specific job.

A project welding quality plan answers different questions: Which of our existing WPSs applies to the moment connections on this building? Are those WPSs within the code and project specification for this work? Which of our qualified welders are assigned, and are their qualifications current? What NDE method is the contract calling for on CJP groove welds, and at what coverage rate?

These questions need written answers before production, not during. When a third-party inspector arrives on the first day of welding, they should be able to review the quality plan and confirm that the welding program is set up correctly — before a single weld is made.

Component 1: WPS Applicability Matrix

The first and most critical component is a matrix showing which WPS applies to each weld type on the project. At a minimum, this should list:

Weld types present on the project (CJP groove, PJP groove, fillet welds by size, stud welds)
The WPS number applicable to each
Process and filler metal used under each WPS
Prequalified or tested (PQR reference number for tested WPS)
Any project-specific supplements or restrictions called out in the specification

For seismic projects, the matrix must identify which welds are demand-critical and confirm that the applicable WPS and filler metal meet the CVN toughness requirements of AWS D1.8.

The WPS applicability matrix is often the first thing an AISC auditor or special inspector asks to see. Shops that cannot produce it quickly signal that their quality program is administrative rather than operational.

Rule library based on AWS D1.1:2025; verify against your governing edition.

Component 2: Qualified Welder and Operator Roster

AWS D1.1 Clause 6 requires that welding be performed by qualified welders — individuals who have passed a welder performance qualification test (WPQ) for the process, position, and base metal applicable to the work. The plan must list the welders assigned to this project with:

Name and identification number
WPQ test date and testing organization
Qualified process(es) and position(s)
Last production welding date (to confirm the six-month continuity rule is met)
Any special qualifications (CVN filler metal handling, demand-critical weld qualification)

Welder continuity is a specific obligation: under AWS D1.1, a welder who has not welded in a given process for six months must requalify for that process. A project quality plan that shows current continuity dates for all assigned welders demonstrates the shop is actively managing this requirement. Projects that fail AISC audits on welder qualification almost always lack this documentation, not the actual qualification records.

Component 3: NDE Scope and Method Plan

The project's NDE requirements come from two sources: AWS D1.1 minimum requirements and any additional requirements imposed by the project specification, the owner, or the contract.

The NDE plan should specify:

Which weld types require NDE, and which method (UT, RT, MT, PT, or visual only)
Coverage percentage for each weld type
The AWS D1.1 acceptance criteria applicable to each method
Whether AISC seismic requirements or owner specifications call for additional coverage
NDE timing (pre-NDT delay for hydrogen diffusion on high-strength steels, post-PWHT where applicable)
Personnel qualifications (Level II UT or RT technicians, specific certifications required)

For many structural projects, visual examination per AWS D1.1 Clause 6 is the primary inspection method, with UT or MT added for CJP groove welds in tension or seismic demand-critical joints. The plan makes this explicit rather than leaving NDE decisions to the individual CWI.

Component 4: Inspection Hold Points and Record Forms

AISC Chapter N distinguishes between fabricator QC inspections (mandatory) and owner QA inspections (notification required). The plan should define hold points — stages of fabrication where production pauses until inspection is completed and documented.

Typical hold points for structural welding include:

Pre-weld inspection: Base metal CMTR review, joint fit-up verification (root opening, root face, joint alignment), preheat verification, WPS applicability confirmation, welder ID and qualification check.

In-process inspection: Preheat and interpass temperature monitoring, weld pass sequence compliance, visual examination of each pass for cold lap, slag inclusions, and crater cracks.

Post-weld inspection: Final visual examination per AWS D1.1 Clause 6, NDE per the plan, dimensional check of the completed assembly.

For each hold point, the plan should reference the applicable inspection form or traveler record. Inspection documentation does not exist unless it is written down at the time of inspection. Verbal confirmation of fit-up or preheat is not acceptable on any AISC-certified job.

Component 5: Special Requirements and Project-Specific Supplements

Every project has some requirements that go beyond the code minimum. The quality plan is where these are documented so production and inspection staff know about them before work starts:

Owner-specified NDE coverage increases. An owner may require 100 percent UT on all CJP groove welds when the code calls for only a fraction of that.

Supplementary CVN requirements. If the project specification invokes AWS D1.1 Table 6.8 for impact toughness, the plan must identify the specific joints, the required CVN value and test temperature, and which PQRs document the supplementary qualification.

Approved filler metal list. Some contracts restrict filler metals to a project-specific approved list. The plan references this list so shop supervisors can verify conformance at procurement.

Special inspection per IBC Chapter 17. If the jurisdiction requires special inspection by a designated special inspector for structural welds, the plan identifies the special inspector, their scope, and the reporting chain.

Stud welding qualifications. If stud welding (AWS D1.1 Clause 7) is in scope, the plan includes the stud weld procedure and operator qualification records.

Assembling the Plan Before Production Starts

The plan should be assembled before production begins — ideally before the shop starts cutting and fitting steel. The practical sequence:

Review the project drawings and specification to identify weld types, code edition, and supplementary requirements.
Pull the applicable WPSs from the library and confirm each is current, properly authorized, and within scope.
Check which welders are assigned. Pull WPQ records and verify continuity dates.
Write the NDE plan based on the specification and code minimums.
Identify hold points and confirm inspection forms are available.
Document any project-specific supplements.
Review the completed plan with the project CWI and QC manager before the first pre-weld inspection.

On fast-track projects, shops skip this assembly step and rely on institutional knowledge. That approach works until something goes wrong, or until the AISC auditor asks to see the project quality plan. At that point, a shop that cannot produce a coherent written plan is signaling that its quality program does not extend beyond its general certification paperwork.

Using Software to Manage the Quality Plan

A well-maintained WPS and welder qualification database makes plan assembly fast. If WPS records are current, pulling the applicable procedures for a project takes minutes. If welder continuity is tracked digitally, confirming current qualification status for every assigned welder is an automated query rather than a manual spreadsheet check.

For a system that maintains your WPS library, tracks welder continuity, and generates project-ready documentation, see our welding procedure software.

FAQ

Frequently asked.

Is there a difference between a QC program and a welding quality plan?: Yes. The QC program is the standing documentation that shows how a fabricator generally manages quality — procedures, organization, training, equipment. A welding quality plan is project-specific: it identifies the applicable WPSs, the qualified welders assigned, the NDE scope, and the hold points for that particular job.
Does AWS D1.1 require a written welding quality plan?: AWS D1.1 does not use the phrase 'welding quality plan,' but the combined requirements of Clause 6 (inspection and qualification records), Clause 7 (stud welding), and AISC Chapter N (if the contract invokes AISC 360) collectively mandate the same information in written form. A project-specific plan organizes that documentation in one place.
Who approves the welding quality plan on an AISC-certified project?: On most structural projects, the fabricator's QC manager (often a CWI or CWE) prepares the plan. The engineer of record or owner's QA inspector reviews it before production begins. AISC Chapter N requires the fabricator to have a QC plan — approval authority depends on the project's inspection and testing requirements.
Do seismic projects need a more detailed welding quality plan?: Yes. Projects in Seismic Design Category D through F invoke AWS D1.8 in addition to D1.1. The quality plan must identify demand-critical welds, confirm that filler metals meet CVN toughness requirements per the applicable table, and list the additional inspection hold points AWS D1.8 imposes. The plan for a seismic SMF project is substantially more detailed than one for a conventional braced frame.