What are the responsibilities and job description for the Welding & Fabrication Compliance and Quality Specialist position at Vertiv?
Position Summary
The Welding & Fabrication Compliance and Quality Specialist is responsible for ensuring welding and fabrication activities comply with applicable codes, standards, customer requirements, and internal quality management systems. As a key member of the Quality organization, this role serves as the subject matter expert for weld quality and fabrication compliance across pipe fabrication and structural steel operations.
The Fabrication Compliance Specialist will lead weld compliance initiatives, support inspection teams, develop and standardize inspection protocols, drive process improvements, investigate nonconformances, facilitate corrective and preventive actions (CAPA), and provide technical coaching to inspectors, supervisors, and production personnel.
Key Responsibilities
Weld Quality & Compliance
- Serve as the primary quality resource for welding and fabrication compliance activities.
- Perform and oversee inspections of welded pipe systems and structural steel fabrications to verify compliance with applicable codes, specifications, drawings, and customer requirements.
- Ensure adherence to applicable standards such as AWS, ASME, API, AISC, and customer-specific requirements.
- Champion weld quality initiatives and promote a culture of compliance and continuous improvement throughout fabrication operations.
- Review welding documentation, including Welding Procedure Specifications (WPS), Procedure Qualification Records (PQR), Welder Performance Qualifications (WPQ), inspection records, and quality documentation.
Inspection Program Leadership
- Develop, implement, and maintain inspection protocols, procedures, checklists, and acceptance criteria for fabrication and welding operations.
- Support and mentor quality inspectors to ensure consistent inspection practices.
- Coordinate inspection activities and ensure proper execution of quality plans and inspection test plans (ITPs).
- Assist in evaluating and improving inspection methodologies.
- Support internal and external audits related to welding, fabrication, and quality compliance.
Nonconformance Management & CAPA
- Lead investigations of welding and fabrication nonconformances.
- Conduct root cause analysis and facilitate corrective and preventive action (CAPA) processes.
- Track and verify effectiveness of corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
- Collaborate with engineering, operations, and quality teams to resolve quality issues and implement sustainable solutions.
- Maintain documentation and reporting related to nonconformance trends and quality performance metrics.
Process Improvement
- Identify opportunities to improve fabrication quality, inspection effectiveness, and operational efficiency.
- Analyze quality data and inspection results to identify recurring issues and process improvement opportunities.
- Lead or participate in continuous improvement initiatives focused on weld quality, compliance, and defect reduction.
- Develop key performance indicators (KPIs) and reporting tools to monitor weld quality performance.
Training & Coaching
- Provide technical guidance and coaching to inspectors, welders, supervisors, and production personnel.
- Support training programs related to welding standards, inspection techniques, quality requirements, and compliance expectations.
- Promote best practices in welding quality, documentation, and inspection activities.
- Assist in qualification and competency assessments for inspection personnel.
Qualifications
Required
- Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) certification through the American Welding Society (AWS) or associates degree majoring in Welding Technology.
- 5 years of experience in welding inspection, fabrication quality, or quality assurance within industrial, manufacturing, structural steel, or pipe fabrication environments.
- Strong knowledge of welding processes, weld discontinuities, fabrication practices, and inspection methods.
- Experience inspecting both piping systems and structural steel fabrications.
- Experience managing nonconformances, root cause analysis, and CAPA processes.
- Knowledge of quality management systems and continuous improvement methodologies.
- Ability to interpret engineering drawings, welding symbols, specifications, and applicable codes.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Proficiency with quality documentation, inspection reporting, and Microsoft Office applications.
Preferred
- Additional certifications such as NDE/NDT Level II, API certifications, or ASNT qualifications.
- Experience with ISO 9001 quality management systems.
- Familiarity with lean manufacturing and continuous improvement tools.
- Experience supporting customer, regulatory, and third-party audits.
Key Competencies
- Welding and fabrication expertise
- Quality systems and compliance management
- Root cause analysis and problem-solving
- Process improvement and continuous improvement leadership
- Technical coaching and mentoring
- Inspection program development
- Attention to detail
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Data analysis and reporting
- Effective communication and influence