What is a Welding Procedure Specification (WPS) and what must it include?

• A. A record of weld inspection results.
• B. A document that describes the welding consumables to be used.
• C. A written document guiding weld production that must include process, base metal, filler metal, joint type and position, preheat/interpass temperature, current/voltage, travel speed, shielding gas, sequence, and inspection requirements.
• D. A checklist for project safety meetings.

Answer: (C)

A Welding Procedure Specification is the written plan that directs how a weld is produced, ensuring consistent, qualified welds and traceability under the applicable codes. It specifies in detail the welding process to be used, the base metal and its thickness, the filler metal, the joint type and welding position, the required preheat and interpass temperatures, the current and voltage, the travel speed, the shielding gas, the welding sequence for multi-pass welds, and the inspection requirements. This combination of information lets the welder reproduce the same weld characteristics and demonstrates that the procedure has been qualified. The other options describe parts of quality assurance or separate documents, but they do not capture the full, formal plan required to guide production. In this context, the best choice is the written document that guides weld production with all those elements included.