Resource guide
WPS vs WPQR: what is the difference?
A WPS and a WPQR are closely related, but they do different jobs. Teams usually need both the instruction side and the supporting qualification side under control, especially when procedures, revisions, and supporting documents start to multiply.
Last updated . Reviewed by Soteriaa team.
Short answer
A WPS is the instruction for how a weld should be carried out. A WPQR is the supporting qualification record behind that procedure. Teams usually track the WPS reference, WPQR reference, revision or status, qualified ranges, examining body details, and the supporting documents that connect the two.
Who this is for
Most useful for teams trying to keep procedure records connected.
The page is aimed at fabrication businesses that have procedures in place, but not always a clean way to show which procedure version and which supporting record the team should rely on.
Welding coordinators
People who need to keep procedure references, revisions, and supporting records aligned across real jobs.
Quality managers
Teams that want a clearer trail from procedure instruction to procedure qualification evidence.
Businesses standardising forms
Fabricators that want WPS and WPQR outputs prepared from a more controlled record set instead of one-off templates.
What to track
Track the instruction, the supporting record, and the link between them.
The clearest setup usually separates WPS and WPQR as different record types, then makes the relationship between them easy to review.
That approach makes it easier to answer which WPS is current, which WPQR supports it, what the qualified ranges are, and which source document should be opened if someone needs the original record.
- WPS reference, revision, status, welding process, joint type, position, and scope details.
- WPQR reference, test date, certificate number, examining body, and qualified ranges.
- A clear parent or supporting link between the WPS and WPQR record.
- Related material group, thickness, diameter, or product-type notes commonly used in your workflow.
- Supporting documents and printable output references for the controlled versions your team uses.
Review your procedure structure and approval requirements before deciding exactly how WPS and WPQR references are presented.
Keep procedure references easier to review
A live register helps teams see which records support each other without relying on file names alone.
Spreadsheet and folder failure points
Why procedure control gets messy fast.
The more procedures and revisions a team has, the more costly it becomes to rely on folder names and manual cross-references.
The WPS is separated from its support
People can find the working instruction, but not the supporting WPQR record that explains the qualified basis behind it.
Superseded revisions remain in circulation
Without a live status view, the team can keep local copies of older WPS files and lose confidence in which version is current.
Qualified ranges are trapped in PDF text
That makes it harder to compare procedures, answer scope questions, or prepare new outputs from the same underlying record.
Form preparation becomes repetitive
Teams repeatedly type the same procedure details into new layouts because the source data is not stored as reusable fields.
How Soteriaa helps
Connect the procedure workflow to the rest of the record set.
These links show where procedure control fits into the broader qualification and welding-record story.
Manage WPS and WPQR as linked records
Track references, scope, and supporting links in a workflow built for welding procedures rather than a generic document list.
See where procedures fit in EN 1090 control
Use the companion guide for the wider record-control view around qualifications, procedures, and supporting evidence.
See where procedures fit in ISO 3834 workflows
Read the broader quality-record guide for the practical controls teams usually keep around WPS and WPQR records.
Preview WPS and WPQR-style forms
Use the free form generator to prepare a clean layout for procedure-related record workflows.
Limitations and scope
This guide is for general record-management information only. It is not legal, certification, or standards interpretation advice.
Soteriaa helps organise WPS and WPQR records, prepare printable outputs, and link supporting references. It does not approve procedures, replace signed originals, or interpret standards on your behalf. Review every workflow against your own procedure and certification requirements.
FAQ
WPS and WPQR questions
These are common practical questions from teams that want a clearer procedure register without over-claiming what software can replace.
What is the simple difference between a WPS and a WPQR?
A WPS is the working procedure instruction people follow. A WPQR is the supporting procedure qualification record that helps justify the procedure. Teams commonly track the references, revisions, scope, and links between the two.
Should every WPS show its parent WPQR reference?
Many teams do that because it makes the supporting chain easier to review. The exact structure should still follow your own procedure and certification requirements.
Can Soteriaa replace signed WPS or WPQR documents?
No. Soteriaa helps organise procedure records, prepare printable outputs, and link supporting references. It does not replace approved signed originals.
Does uploaded PDF template support mean final PDF writing is complete?
No. Uploaded PDF mapping and field detection can support preparation workflows, but final uploaded-PDF writing should still be treated as incomplete unless a later implementation adds it explicitly.
Keep WPS and WPQR records connected instead of scattered.
Give the team a clearer path from working instruction to supporting procedure record.