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5183 |
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Thursday, June 08, 2017, Hall 14 9:40 AM Industrial Forum I |
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Significance of personnel qualification and quality management for thermal spray plants |
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Annegret Ohliger-Volmer* / GSI mbH, Branch SLV München, Germany Rolf Huber / GSI mbH, NL SLV München, Germany Heidi Cramer/ GSI mbH, NL SLV München, Germany |
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Demand from the globalised market for documented proof of product quality and quality management procedures have become ever more stringent, especially when high safety requirements need to be fulfilled. Quality assurance and its effectiveness always entail the deployment of qualified personnel as well. International trade has created increasing demand for mutually recognized qualifications. EWF the European Federation for Welding, Joining and Cutting, along with the relevant national welding organizations of 32 European countries, have been periodically updating and harmonizing education, training, qualification and certification in the field of welding and its allied processes for personnel from crafts people to professional engineers. International standards are indispensable as well if fabrication is to take place according to the state of the art and amongst more if the demanded quality is to be achieved and documented. The current EWF-training guidelines are directly linked to DIN EN ISO 14922, the quality management system for thermal spray plants and to ISO-Standard 14918, testing of thermal sprayers. Since years, there is a continuing interest in EWF training and also QM certification in the thermal spray sector. The experience from the operational practice proves that the training courses and the application of the associated quality standards are in great demand in the field of thermal spraying. Contrary to expectations that companies would merely strive for a sprayer qualification test according to ISO 14918 for their experienced employees, it has shown that the demand for the complete EWF training is instead persisting to an increased extent. Concerning thermal spraying, ISO standards, EWF training, and QM certification according to ISO- and/or GTS-guidelines have created a sound system, which meets the increased demands of trade and industry of high quality sprayed coatings. |