QA, QC, and the inspector’s lane

Quality assurance is the system that makes the right weld likely: procedures, training, calibration, audits. Quality control is the checking: inspection, testing, release. Inspectors live in QC and feed QA. You do not ‘make quality.’ You measure conformity and stop nonconformity.

• ITP / inspection and test plan: hold points (you must sign before work proceeds), witness points, review points, and surveillance.
• Traceability: heat numbers, electrode lot, welder ID, WPS number, NDT report number — so a crack in 2029 can still be explained.
• Calibration: gauges, ovens, pyrometers, tensile machines. Out-of-cal is an NCR, not a shrug.
• NCR: nonconformance report. State the requirement, the finding, the disposition (use-as-is, repair, rework, scrap) and who is allowed to disposition. Inspectors do not usually own ‘use-as-is’ on structural steel — the engineer does.
• Repair vs rework: rework restores original requirements without a concession. Repair may need an engineered procedure.
• Independence: you do not inspect your own welding. You do not get paid extra to pass welds. You report what is there.