If you are commissioning welded fabrication in Japan and your inspection body or client requires a qualified welding procedure specification, the process can seem opaque the first time. This article explains how procedure qualification works under JIS Z 3040, what the testing involves, and what a completed WPS package should contain.
Japanese industrial clients sometimes specify ASME B31.3 for process piping, particularly when the end client is an overseas company or when the plant was originally designed to American standards. Understanding where ASME B31.3 and JIS B 8265 differ. And where they are broadly equivalent. Helps avoid qualification work being done twice.
Stainless steel gets its corrosion resistance from a chromium oxide layer on the surface. Introduce free iron. From a shared grinding disc, a contaminated wire brush, or airborne particles from nearby carbon steel work. And that layer breaks down locally, leading to rust spots or, in aggressive environments, pitting corrosion. In food-grade and chemical plant fabrication, this is not a cosmetic issue.
Tolerance disputes are one of the most common sources of friction between clients and fabricators. A drawing that says 'fabricate to standard' without specifying which standard, or a client who expects machined-part accuracy from a welded assembly, leads to disagreements at the inspection stage. This article explains what JIS standards specify for structural steel fabrication and what is realistic to achieve in a workshop environment.
In April 2021, Japan amended the Ordinance on Prevention of Hazards due to Specified Chemical Substances to add welding fumes to the list of controlled substances. The amendment introduced new requirements for local exhaust ventilation, respiratory protection, and health monitoring for welders. For welding workshops and contractors, the practical implications are significant.
Aluminium welding is a different discipline from steel welding. The material conducts heat rapidly, has no colour change as it approaches melting point, and forms an oxide layer that melts at a much higher temperature than the base metal. Both MIG and TIG processes are used for aluminium fabrication, and the choice between them depends on the component geometry, the required weld quality, and the production volume.
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