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LINKING PEOPLE, JOINING NATIONS
The year 2005, incidentally, was a turning point in the development of the IIW
ANB scheme which, by that time, comprised 32 countries that had attained IIW ANB
status, consisting of 25 European and seven non-European countries, plus three applicant
countries. This was creating significant work for the IIW IAB Secretariat and, in order to
reduce inefficiencies and streamline activities, it was decided to combine both EWF and the
IIW IAB into a joint Secretariat, effective from the 1 January 2006. It also corresponded
with the Institute’s move into IIW company certification through the launch of the IIW
Manufacturer Certification Scheme (MCS) According to ISO 3834
Quality Requirements
for Fusion Welding of Metallic Materials
.
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The IIW personnel certification scheme was introduced in January
2008 and in recognition of the efforts by EWF in the prior development
of personnel certification procedures, the IIW IAB agreed to promote both
systems for the coming three years as compensation. As an indication of
the growing closeness between IIW and EWF the first publication of a joint
Annual Report earlier in 2006 showcased the attributes of both organisations
in the operation and dissemination of information for qualification and
certification activities.
The following years involved rapid expansion, both technically
and geographically. The IIW IAB continued its activities in the
development of systems in regard to qualification and certification in
countries outside of Europe. It launched three new Working Groups
that undertook the development of new guidelines for ETQ&C in the
areas of Mechanical, Orbital and Robot Welding, Mechanical
Destructive Testing, and Welding Safety. At the same time
IIW undertook a management review of the IIW IAB through
a Board-appointed Task Force under the Chairmanship of
Dr-Ing. Stefano Morra (Italy) to develop new strategies
and a wider participation of IIW ANBs and ANBCCs in
the management process. In furtherance of these objectives
the IIW IAB later initiated a Task Group to look at ways of
improving the marketing and promotion of the IIW schemes.
One of the pleasing results to come out of 2008 was an increase in diplomas awarded,
which was attributed to the fact that more and more IIW ANBs were entering the system.
One surprise was ‘…that very few, only 1 500 IW diplomas had been awarded, compared
with 2.5 million welders in the world’. In this respect there was a huge need for increased
attention by all ANBs with regard to the potential to increase welder qualification.
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Of
particular interest, also during that year, was the implementation of a new harmonised
examination database that provided a much higher level of consistency in the preparation of
suitable questions for examinations.
Stefano Morra