Requirements checklist
What to ask for when choosing software for welding shops.
A checklist built from how welding shops work, to print or save as a PDF and bring to any supplier meeting.
What the software should cover
Tick each one that matters to your business.
- Joint based quotations
- Weld procedure and welder records
- Consumable lot tracking
- Fit-up, weld and finish stages
- Inspection and outside tests
- Rework and distortion log
- Dispatch and invoicing
Roles that need their own access
Who logs in, and what each person may see or change.
- For owners
- For estimators
- For shop supervisors
- For welders
- For quality staff
Reports to ask for
Ask to see each one with your own sample data.
- Quotes still open, won or lost, grouped by customer and by the weldment quoted
- Jobs by bay and stage, with promised dates
- Consumable lots issued and the jobs each one touched
- Rework hours, grinding time and scrap by customer and part, so thin stainless frames and heavy plate work can be priced apart
- Outside tests sent, returned and overdue
- Welder qualification dates falling due, listed by process and position before the shift roster is set
- Quoted cost against actual cost for each finished job, with joint hours, consumable use and outside test charges on separate lines
Systems it may need to connect to
Note which ones you already run.
- SMS
- WhatsApp or other messaging
- Accounting export
- Barcode labels
Questions for any vendor
Put these to every supplier you are comparing.
- Does it work for pipe spool and pressure vessel welding?
- Can I see which jobs used a particular wire lot?
- How are outside tests tracked?
- Does it warn about expired welder qualifications?
- Can quotes use rework costs?
- Do welders need to use a computer?
- Can it print a delivery note with test papers?
- Can open orders and customer balances be loaded?
- What decides the price?
Where the work usually breaks today
Circle the ones you recognise. They set the order of the project.
- The welder is not on the record
- Consumable lots are not traced
- Quotes ignore distortion and rework
- Outside tests lose their place
- Repeat parts are re-quoted from scratch
Prefer to talk it through? See the welding shops page.