Improving Global Quality of Life

structures. It is unlikely in the short term that such international standards will be developed and universally
adopted. Rather, it is expected that a small number of product standards will be applied internationally for
each industrial sector.
Whilst this may be the case for the product standards, such standards rely on fabrication standards that
may be stand-alone documents or a group of supporting standards that cover the essential areas where
fabrication control is needed. These areas include, welding procedure development and qualification, the
verification of welder skill, inspection requirements, dimensional and imperfection acceptance criteria, NDT
techniques and requirements for the qualification of NDT operators amongst a range of supporting criteria.
They also embrace the specification of base materials and welding consumables and the documentation of
knowledge to provide guidance on the avoidance of welding defects and the application of good practice in
the fabrication activities carried out.
IIW has already played an important role in the development of ISO standards for welding filler metals and
ISO standards for testing of filler metals. A unique partnership has grown among IIW Commission II, ISO
TC44 SC3 and CEN TC121 SC3 that has, in a few short years, produced a now nearly complete set of ISO
filler metal standards. This partnership will continue to fill in the missing pieces to round out the portfolio
of these standards, and momentum for adoption of these standards as national standards in major parts of
the world is building.
IIW can play a pivotal role in developing certain of these supporting standards as well as promoting
their adoption in regional and national standards that find global application. In developing this aim, the
following strategies are identified:
Developing in association with ISO/TC44, globally relevant, supporting welding standards where IIW
has technical competence and is able to incorporate the development in its working programme.
Preparation of technical, welding-related guides to enable users avoid making unsatisfactory welds
where IIW has the competence to develop such guides and can include such projects in its working
programme.
Promotion of international supporting welding standards through the publication of articles in
the technical literature, the submission of proposals to technical committees preparing product
standards and the personal involvement of IIW member societies and working units with product
standardising bodies.
The preparation of IIW briefing documents giving explanations about international standards and
encouraging their adoption by standardisation organisations in developing countries.
7.4.10 Challenges in laws, standards and technical information
All of the needs listed above require tackling appropriately. Some can be done quickly while others may take
some time. All will be subject to evolution. At present we live in globally challenging times which will require
our best thinking and endeavours to resolve with minimum harm to all.
The challenges the world and the global welding industry face are:
A) How are we to meet these needs which will vary from country to country? We all will need patience,
tolerance, fair play and follow the rules, and need to recognise in making progress there:
a) are usually many ways of tackling and solving problems;
b) is rarely one universal optimum solution because of varying conditions;
c) is usually a need for a proper balance and flexibility to achieve practical solutions and optimum
compromises necessary for agreement;
d) is the need for good leadership and management.
70 Improving Global Quality of Life Through Optimum Use and Innovation of Welding and Joining Technologies