Welding technology knowledge required by the Senior Welding Inspector is very similar to that required by the Welding Inspector, but with some additional scope and depth. Certain areas where additional knowledge is required are a:

• Knowledge of quality assurance and quality control.
• Sound appreciation of the four commonly used non-destructive testing methods.
• Basic understanding of steel metallurgy for commonly welded materials and the application of this understanding to the assessment of fracture surfaces.
• Assessment of non-destructive test reports, particularly the interpretation of radiographs. 

There are many situations in manufacturing or on a project where the Senior Welding Inspector may be required to carry out audits

The Senior Welding Inspector has primarily a supervisory/managerial role, which could encompass the management and control of an inspection contract. The role would certainly include leading a team of Welding Inspectors, who will look to the Senior Welding Inspector for guidance, especially on technical subjects. The Senior Welding Inspector will be expected to give advice, resolve problems, take decisions and generally lead from the front, sometimes in difficult situations. The attributes required by the Senior Welding Inspector are varied and the emphasis on certain attributes and skills may differ from project to project. Essentially though the Senior Welding Inspector will require leadership skills, technical skills and experience.

The Senior Welding Inspector should be aware of the more widely used standards as applied in welding and fabrication. For example: BS EN ISO 15614 / ASME IX Standards for welding procedure approval BS 4872, BS EN 287/ BS EN ISO9606 / ASME IX Standards for welder approval. PED BS 5500 / ASME VIII Standards for quality of fabrication.BS EN ISO 9000 – 2000 Standards for quality management.

The requirements of a senior welding inspector before, during, and after welding including signing off a product and QA/QC.

Welding Inspection Technology  Welding Inspection and Certification

Safe Practices for welding Inspector  Metal Joining Processes

Welding Processes:

• Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW)
• Flux Cored Arc Welding(FCAW), Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW)
• Submerged Arc Welding (SAW), Plasma Arc Welding (PAW)
• Electroslag Welding (ESW), Oxyacetelene Welding(OAW)
• Stud Welding(SW), Laser Beam Welding (LBW)
• Electron Beam Welding (EBW), Resistance Welding (RW)

Brazing Processes:

• Torch, Furnace, Induction Brazing
• Resistance, Dip and Infrared Brazing

Cutting Processes:

• Oxyfuel Cutting
• Arc Carbon Arc Cutting
• Plasma Arc Cutting
• Mechanical Cutting

Weld Joining Geometry and Welding Symbols

• Documents Governing  Welding Inspection and Qualification Metal Properties and Destructive Testing
• Metric Practice for Welding Inspectors Welding Metallurgy Weld and Base metal discontinuities
• Visual Inspection and other NDE Methods and symbols. General Requirements for practical
• Workmanship Requirements and Visual Inspection Acceptance Criteria – Structural Steel
• Workmanship Requirements and Visual Inspection Acceptance Criteria – Pipeline
• Workmanship Requirements and Visual Inspection Acceptance Criteria – Pressure Piping
• Procedure Qualification Requirement Requirements (WPS, PQR)
• Performance Qualification Requirements
• Specification of Equipment and Materials for welds containing filler metal additives
• Qualification of Welding Procedure Qualification of Welders
• Design and Preparation of a Joint for Production Welding
• Inspection and Testing of Production Welds Acceptance Standards for NDT
• Repair and Removal of Defects Procedure for NDT
• Mechanized Welding with filler metal additions
• Automatic Welding without filler metal additions