AUTHORIZED NOMINATED BODY FOR COMPANY CERTIFICATION

From International Authorization Board (IAB) Website: In 2007, EWF and IIW agreed on transferring the EWF Companies Certification System according to ISO 3834 to IIW. IAB will be the structure within IIW that will update the EWF system documentation (Guidelines and Rules) and will implement these as an IIW Certification System.

The International System for the Manufacturers Certification is aimed to comply with ISO 3834, based on the European System, existing since 1998.

ISO 3834 can boost the manufacturing company’s ability to sell its products in both domestic and overseas markets.

Compliance with ISO 3834 provides a “one-stop-shop” to achieve global recognition of the company’s capability.

Entitled “Quality Requirements for Welding”, the standard provides details of how to control the various welding-related operations to achieve the desired quality consistently.

A key feature of the standard is the requirement to ensure that people with welding responsibilities are competent to discharge those responsibilities. This is achieved by incorporation of another standard: ISO 14731 “Welding Co-ordination – Tasks and responsibilities” that can be accomplished through the IIW Qualification System.

In order to administer this system and to develop it, the IIW has established the IAB – International Authorization Board. This IIW Working Unit aimed at the effective integration of the EWF and IIW systems and its implementation in all IIW countries, publishes Guidelines and Rules for certification and develops and manages the Quality Assurance procedures controlling the system.

An organization recognized by the national IIW member is appointed as (ANBCC) Authorized Nominated Body for Companies Certification in each country. Representatives from these ANBCCs form the Operational Management within the IAB, and appoint IIW Assessors to ensure conformity of each ANBCC to the agreed Rules.

From Welding Technology Institute of Australia (WTIA): Benefits of Choosing the IIW MCS ISO 3834 Program

• IIW MCS ISO 3834 Certified Companies easily improve the efficiency of their company’s welding management through compliance with ISO 3834 and ISO 14731, with a significant opportunity to reduce costs and waste, without decreasing the level of quality.
• Practical feedback is given from IIW MCS ISO 3834 audits to assist the company in further improving its quality, productivity and cost savings.
• Competitiveness is increased as clients are confident that IIW MCS ISO 3834 Certified Companies consistently deliver greater reliability and integrity of components.
• Automatic recognition in over 50 IIW member countries and many others using ISO 3834 and IS0 14731 gives enhanced global competitiveness.
• IIW MCS ISO 3834 is based on both the stringent requirements of EA-6/02 Guidelines of the use of EN 45 011 and ISO/IEC 17021 for Certification to EN ISO 3834 and the document IIW IAB 339 Rules for ANBCCs Operating the IIW Manufacturer Certification System.
• Audits of companies are performed by trained IIW registered assessors who are internationally qualified and experienced International Welding Engineers and Technologists.
• The IIW MCS ISO 3834 scope of certification spells out the company’s welding processes, products manufactured, materials and the role of the Responsible Welding Coordinator (RWC).
• IIW qualified and certified employees give greater confidence to company and client alike.
• IIW has produced specific supplementary guides for the implementation of ISO 3834 for the processes/products considered (e.g. railway components, pressure vessels, construction products etc.), taking into consideration the applicable national and international Standards and the best practice manufacturing procedures already implemented by leading international companies and customers.
• An up-to-date global website register (www.ewf.be/certified.aspx), with the relevant information of all companies certified under the IIW MCS ISO 3834 , is made freely available to enquirers worldwide.
• The IIW MCS ISO 3834 can be dovetailed into an ISO 9001 system, be a ‘bolt-on” to an ISO 9001 system or a “stand alone” system.

The IIW Manufacturers Certification System (MCS) employs a uniform system of assessment of its Authorized Nominated Bodies for Company Certification (ANBCCs) in order to achieve the uniform assessment of candidate companies. Therefore, it is important that all of the ISO 3834 standards be interpreted in much the same fashion regardless of the country of delivery.

To manage the IIW MCS, a number of documents have been published and the one dealing with interpretations of the requirements of the various levels of ISO 3834 can be downloaded here.

Download: IAB-337

The American Welding Society is a member society in the International Institute of Welding. In 2007, the IIW adopted the company certification program then in use by the European Welding Federation (EWF). To manage the program the IIW delegated responsibility to the International Authorization Board (IAB), then already managing the education and training programs of the IIW.

The resulting IIW Manufacturers Certification System (IIW MCS) is organized with each member country designating a body that will be audited and authorized to deliver ISO 3834 certifications. In the USA, AWS is the Authorized Nominated Body for Company Certification (ANBCC). In order to maintain its authorization in the IIW MCS, AWS is required to undergo periodic audits to ensure that all of the rules set by the IIW MCS are followed.

There are absolutely no rules or prohibitions on anyone offering to certify companies to ISO 3834 (or any other standard). Anyone seeking certification for their company must do the appropriate due diligence in order to assure both the credibility and competency of the certifying body.

From Welding Technology Institute of Australia (WTIA): Benefits of Implementing Compliance to ISO 3834:2005

Suppliers/Manufacturers:

• Less rework
• Greater likelihood of jobs being completed on time as a result of more focused management.
• Local and international recognition of welding competence
• More efficient coordination of welding activities
• More pro-active and responsible workforce
• Increased opportunities and capability to bid on jobs
• Cost savings – more efficient use of technology and people
• Possibility of reduced surveillance audits and inspections by asset owners/purchasers.

Asset Owners:

• Greater assurance of the quality of welded products
• Greater reliability and performance of plant
• Reduction in maintenance costs
• Higher level of competency from suppliers of welded products
• Improved management of risk surrounding the specification and purchase of welded products.

Several EN (European) product standards require the implementation of ISO 3834 as a means of controlling the welding process. Product standards where compliance with ISO 3834 is required include EN 1090 (Steel structures), EN 12732 (steel gas piping), EN 12952 (water tube boilers), EN 13445 (unfired pressure vessels) and EN 15085 (railway products).

Companies seeking to export products into the European Union should study all the regulatory, contractual, and code requirements that may be applicable to their respective products. Company certification to ISO 3834 alone will not be sufficient to meet all the applicable requirements.

Guidance relevant to the application of ISO 3834 to several EN product standards can be downloaded here.

Download: IAB-338

There are no requirements in the major American construction codes for a company to use ISO 3834, either in a conformance or compliance mode. However, several construction specifications, including that of a major oil company, have been noted to require compliance to ISO 3834.

When ISO 3834 first was introduced, the standard called out exclusively ISO/CEN standards. This hindered the uptake of the standard in those areas of the world where other equivalent standards were in use. There was some confusion as to whether these other standards could be used and still be considered in compliance with ISO 3834. To clear this up, in 2005, the ISO TC 44/SC 10 committee which authored ISO 3834 issued a Technical Corrigendum that allowed for the use of both national standards or standards that are existing requirements to company processes.

During the preparation for the ISO 3834 audit, the company has an obligation to prepare a statement indicating which standards it uses that are technically equivalent to those specified in ISO 3834. The USA ANBCC considers the term “technically equivalent” to mean that the covered activity is governed by a national standard, not that the conditions required by that national standard are scientifically equal to those in the relevant ISO standard. A sample form for listing technically equivalent standards used in lieu of those specified in ISO 3834 can be found here.

A searchable database of companies certified to ISO 3834 under auspices of the IIW MCS program can be found here:

Link: http://www.ewf.be/certified.aspx

The common usage of these terms includes the concept of compliance versus conformance. Compliance is the situation where a company has been assessed by a third party for strict adherence to the requirements of the standard. The documentation of this compliance is the act of certification. The value of this certification is based on the credibility of the third party doing the assessment and the independence and objectivity of that third party.

Conformance is generally regarded as the voluntary adherence to the principles and intent of the standard, but verified by the company itself. It may involve compromises in what the standard requires as well as interpretations of the standard that the company itself originates.

If adherence to the standard is a required condition for securing a bid for work, it is not surprising that customers will want some independent verification by a third party that the company meets that requirement.

On the other hand, if the company is desirous of using the standard to improve its quality and productivity, then the conformance route is often the most economical first step.

There are specific rules that the IIW requires that AWS must follow in its role as an IIW ANBCC. The rules are contained in document IAB 339 which can be downloaded here:

Download file: IAB-339

In general, the steps in a successful certification process involve the following actions:

1. Company studies the ISO 3834 standard, determines which level that it will seek, the governing standard(s) to which it will be assessed, the processes and base materials to be included in the scope of certification, and the qualifications of those who will be listed as welding coordinators. The company should download and become familiar with all of the relevant checklists that will be used in the audit.
2. At this time, it will be useful for the company to download FORM 005F to check and locate in its own welding quality system procedures that meet the elements of the ISO 3834 standard. There will be a fee for the Lead Auditor to review the completed checklist for compliance with ISO 3834 and this can serve as a useful gap analysis for the applicant company.
   Download file: FORM 005F Document Review Checklist
3. When the company has determined that it may be ready for the audit process to continue, it should submit the application (FORM 002), and the checklists in FORMs 005D, 005E, and 005F to AWS. The Lead Auditor will evaluate FORM 005F and work with the company to resolve any nonconformances in the company’s documentation. AWS will bill the company for this review (at an amount agreed to in advance) and return the FORM 005F to the company for its review.
   Download file: FORM 002 Company Application
4. If the company decides to continue with the process of certification, AWS will appoint a Lead Auditor (and additional auditors if the audit is expected to be large) who is independent of the company. The Lead Auditor will determine the extent and duration of the audit, the qualification of the welding coordinators, and the adequacy of the technical standards used. This information will be evaluated to develop a quote for services which will be included on a Statement of Understanding (FORM 015) which will serve as the legal agreement between the company and AWS.
   Download file: FORM 015 Statement of Understanding
5. Upon agreement with FORM 015, the company will be presented with a written Audit Plan and the composition of the Audit Team. The company will be requested to approve the Audit Team.
6. The onsite audit will be scheduled as per agreement between the Lead Auditor (and Audit Team if needed) and the applicant company. Any nonconformances noted during the audit will need to be resolved between the company and the Lead Auditor.
7. The Lead Auditor will submit a Final Report with a recommendation for certification. The ANBCC will issue, on behalf of the IIW, a certificate of compliance accompanied by a schedule which identifies the scope of certification (governing standard, welding processes, base materials, and welding coordinators covered in the audit).

To be technically correct, there are no requirements in ISO 3834 to have a Quality Manual as is commonly used in quality management systems. However, there are a number of documents that are required, and it is useful to compile them in some sort of organized fashion. This facilitates the use of the documentation within the company, assists in document control, and can be the basis for a document review. For these reasons, the USA ANBCC is expecting to see a Quality Manual at the time of application.

For a list of required documentation, readers are directed to consult Annex A of ISO 3834-6.

There is a strict prohibition on anyone officially associated with AWS or the ANBCC in consulting or assisting a company that is seeking certification by AWS or the ANBCC. General information can be disseminated without any problem, but suggesting corrective actions or prescribing what should be done is prohibited.

There are two separate assessments that are conducted during the IIW audit. The assessments and checklists for the document review and onsite audit can be downloaded below:

The company’s quality documentation is reviewed for completeness. Download the document review checklist here.

The onsite audit is conducted in accordance with a checklist. Due to the different requirements for the three levels of ISO 3834, please select the appropriate onsite checklist for the level your company is seeking,
Download ISO 3834-2 checklist.
Download ISO 3834-3 checklist.
Download ISO 3834-4 checklist.

The qualifications of the responsible welding coordinator and others on the welding coordinator team are reviewed by the Lead Auditor before and during the onsite audit. Download the welding coordinator checklist here.

If your company is using national standards that are different from those specified in ISO 3834-5, please use the following checklist to list those standards.
Download Technically Equivalent Standards Checklist

The cost of certification is dependent upon the size and duration of the audit. During the application process, a quote will be developed based on the number of auditors and how many days it will take to complete the onsite audit. The cost of the audit is solely based on the standard auditor/day rate plus any direct expenses of the auditor(s). Please contact AWS to determine what the current auditor/day rate is.

IIW MCS certification under ISO 3834 is good for a five-year period. There is a requirement for an onsite surveillance audit within the first year after initial certification. For the balance of the five-year period of certification the company is required to self-assess itself and submit annual surveillance reports for review by the Lead Auditor