Top 5 Challenges Facing Welding Managers & Certified Welding Inspectors in 2025

If you manage welders or oversee welding procedures, you are most likely aware of the challenges that come with staying compliant and organized while keeping production moving. Whether you’re running a fabrication shop, managing field operations, or coordinating multiple contractors across job sites, these pressures show up every day. 

They aren’t new, but they’ve become harder to manage as projects become more demanding and regulatory requirements tighten. Here’s what many welding managers and Certified Welding Inspectors (CWIs) are facing in 2025—and how a system like ProWrite can help bring order to the process. 

1. Managing Complex Qualification Structures Across Multiple Welding Codes 

AWS, ASME, API, NAVSEA—every project or client brings a different set of expectations. And while each of those codes has its own rules for procedure and welder qualification, there’s usually no “universal” way to track and manage them all in one place. Some projects need company-specific documentation, others follow jurisdictional guidelines, and even within the same shop, multiple code interpretations might be in play. 

Keeping everything organized manually—or relying on spreadsheets and shared folders—quickly becomes difficult to maintain as operations grow. It’s not just about tracking expiration dates. Every WPQ must be accurately linked to the correct PQR and WPS, aligned with the applicable code edition, and verified to ensure the correct procedures are being used in the field.  

ProWrite centralizes PQR, WPS, and WPQ management across codes, with built-in assistance to support compliance with ASME Section IX and AWS D1.1. It provides clear traceability back to procedures and flags issues during creation—so you always know which welders are qualified, under which codes, and when their qualifications are due for renewal.

2. Assigning the Right Welder to the Right Job at the Right Time 

You may have a list of welders on shift and a list of welds that need to be completed. But are those welders properly qualified for the specific work? Do their WPQs match the required process, material, position, and thickness? Are they certified for the correct procedure revision? Is their continuity still current? 

Assigning welders without full, up-to-date information can create two major problems: over-assigning a welder who is technically qualified but over-skilled (and overpaid) for the work, or worse, assigning someone under-qualified—putting the project at risk for weld rejection, costly rework, or compliance issues.  

With ProWrite’s welder management database, you can view current qualifications, continuity history, and WPS assignments all in one place. Upcoming expirations are flagged automatically, helping you make informed assignments based on full, up-to-date information. 

3. Maintaining Real-Time Visibility into Welder Status and Job Eligibility 

Even if a welder is qualified today, that doesn't guarantee they will remain eligible tomorrow. Depending on the applicable code, continuity may need to be documented every three months, six months, or annually. If continuity records are not updated in time, the welder may technically lose their qualification. 

Too often, these lapses go unnoticed until the welder’s already on a job—or worse, after the work’s been completed. And if you’re managing hundreds of welders across multiple sites, keeping those logs updated manually is a full-time job in itself.  

ProWrite automates continuity tracking and includes an integrated Welder Expiration Notification system, sending alerts ahead of qualification lapses. You can also link data from weld logs or timecards to streamline continuity updates and avoid costly requalification.

4. Maintaining Revision Control Across Welding Documents and Procedures 

If you have ever had a weld rejected due to the use of an outdated WPS, you understand the critical importance of maintaining strict revision control. Yet, many shops and field crews continue to rely on shared drives, local folders, or printed copies, making it difficult to ensure that the most current procedure is always being used.  

In some cases, a welding supervisor or lead may unknowingly distribute an outdated procedure. In others, someone may modify a document without proper authorization, and those changes can be used in production before anyone realizes a mistake has been made.  

ProWrite enforces document control by tracking all changes, locking down who can edit or view documents, and ensuring only approved procedures are used in production. Program settings ensure that only approved documents are accessible to assigned users, while company group settings control which users can view or edit documents based on their assigned security groups.

5. Aligning Welder Certification with Actual Performance in Production 

Holding a valid certification does not always mean a welder is the best fit for every job. Some certified welders may still generate excessive repair work, high NDT rejection rates, or frequent grind-outs that impact overall project efficiency. On paper, they meet the qualifications; in practice, they may be a liability to production schedules and quality standards. 

Without a way to link real-world performance data to individual welders, it becomes difficult to distinguish between those consistently delivering high-quality work and those merely meeting minimum certification requirements.  

ProWrite makes it possible to track welder performance alongside their qualifications, providing reporting tools that highlight rework trends, repair rates, and overall weld quality. This helps ensure assignments are based not only on certification but also on proven capability in the field.

Stay in Control of Your Welding with ProWrite