L. Inspection and Testing¶
1. Purpose¶
To describe the methods for inspection and testing of fabricated material and ensure that they are fabricated in accordance with contract and certification requirements. Note: In the event the customer's requirements for inspection are more stringent than the company's standard, the customer's requirements will govern. Shop drawings will denote the level of inspection if project plans and specifications are more stringent.
2. Definitions¶
For readability, this section uses the following definitions and abbreviations.
- 2.1 MCLFD: Material, Cut, Layout, Fit-up, Deburr — the in-process inspection checklist used at each fabrication step.
- 2.2 CWI: As certified by the American Welding Society.
- 2.3 NDE: Testing methods used to evaluate properties of materials, components, or assemblies without causing damage. Synonymous with NDT.
- 2.4 QCI: Quality Control Inspector
3. References¶
- 3.1 Seacoast Inc. Quality Control Plan (Section A)
- 3.2 AWS D1.5 Bridge Welding Code
4. Responsibilities¶
- 4.1 Owner of Process: The quality control manager will review and approve any changes to this procedure. The procedures will be reviewed periodically at a minimum annually.
- 4.2 Quality Control (Manager): The quality control manager will approve the final procedures before deployed to the Quality Manual.
- 4.3 Certified In-Process Checker: Responsible for in-process inspections following the documented procedure.
5. Quality Records¶
Unless otherwise noted, all Quality Records follow the Seacoast "Policy for Maintenance of Quality Records" documented in the QCM Quality Control Plan (Section A-page 13)
- 5.1 Quality Control Drawing Copies with inspection results: Retained for 2 years from the project completion date. When the project is active the QC drawings are kept in the Quality Control Managers Office. After completing the contract, the documents are kept in the Document Center.
- 5.2 Training Certification Matrix: The certification matrix is a permanent document that is updated when information changes and kept in the shop and training book.
- 5.3 NDE Inspector Qualification/Certification (Form NDE-1): Kept in the Certificate of Achievement Binder in the Document Center.
- 5.4 Certified Weld Inspector Certification: Kept in the Certificate of Achievement Binder in the Document Center.
6. Documentation¶
6.1 Qualifications and Assignments Overview¶
All personnel who perform inspections must have the education, training or experience appropriate for the work they are assigned.
| Type of Inspection | Qualifications Required | Assignability |
|---|---|---|
| In process inspection (MCLFD) | Training through Seacoast, Inc.'s training program | Any staff at Seacoast is eligible to be trained and perform in process inspections. |
| Weld Inspections | Current CWI certificate required | Only certified CWI inspectors can perform final weld inspections. |
| Final Inspection | Training through Seacoast, Inc.'s training program | The Quality Control Manager is the designated final inspection for product leaving Seacoast |
| NDT | Current NDE certificate required | Only certified NDE inspectors can perform NDT testing. Seacoast sublets this function to qualified individuals/companies. |
| Destructive Testing | Qualified Testing Agency with ISO 9000 certification | Test samples will be machined by Seacoast, Inc. or an approved machine shop. Testing (eg: Macro-etch, Reduced Section Tension, Side-bend, Root-bend, Guided bend, Charpy V-notch [CVN]) will be performed by a qualified testing agency (eg: QC Metallurgical). |
6.2 In-Process Fabrication Inspection Procedure¶
Seacoast, Inc. fabrications are inspected at multiple points during the production process to ensure quality and compliance with customer requirements. In-process inspections catch problems early and minimize non-conformances. Use this procedure for in-process inspections.
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Cut the material according to the cut list and the shop drawings. |
| 2 | Use a white marker to identify the in-process piece. Note: Marking the pieces as instructed maintains material traceability throughout the production process. The Job number and piece mark can be used in conjunction with the cut list to trace MTRs to the specific steel being used to fabricate a product |
| 3 | MCLFD in-process inspection |
| 4 | How to use MCLFD for in-process inspections. If in process inspection at any point in the MCLFD process identifies a non-conformance, then the piece is tagged (see product non-conformance procedure) and the non-conformance is captured on the non-conformance log. |
6.3 Final Inspection¶
A qualified inspector will final inspect all completely fabricated materials. These inspectors will be specifically trained to perform and be responsible for final inspections in accordance with plans and specifications.
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Normally when fabrication is complete for all pieces on a single drawing a final inspection is performed. This is not absolutely true but customary. Final inspection can be performed piece by piece or after multiple pieces/drawings are completed. |
| 2 | The shop completes a fabrication and requests final inspection from the Quality Control Manager |
| 3 | The quality control inspector gathers the necessary items: The quality control copy of the drawings, certified tape measure, Fillet weld gauges (if required), Etc |
| 4 | Perform final inspection |
| 5 | The results of the final inspection are documented on the quality control copy of the detailed drawings and initialled by the final quality control inspector. Any deficiencies are considered a non-conformance, see the non-conformance section. |
Step 4 — Final Inspection Details:
| Inspection | Description |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | All dimensions on each detail drawing are sample inspected at a rate of 10% and must include a check of the number of pieces fabricated by piece mark and main member dimension. When fabrication errors are discovered all additional dimensions will be inspected. |
| Welds | All welds are visually inspected in accordance with AWS D1.5 acceptance criteria. |
| Bolts | All bolt installations will be inspected at a rate of 10%, except where contract requirements are more stringent. |
| Paint | All shop paint applications will be inspected for dry film thickness at a rate of three samples for every 10 feet of main member length. The entire surface will be inspected for general coverage and all "no paint" areas are inspected to ensure that the entire designated area is free of coating. |
6.4 Inspector Liaison¶
When there is a request or requirement for an external inspector to be on-site, Seacoast, Inc. will assign desk space as appropriate for the inspector's use. The quality control manager will assign a Seacoast, Inc. employee as the inspector liaison as appropriate.
7. Revision History¶
| Revision Date | Approved By |
|---|---|
| 2026-05-12 | Shop Engineer |
Summary of Change: Reformatted to standard procedure template.