Free template
Welding and fabrication skills matrix template.
In fabrication, "can weld" means nothing until you say which process and which position. A welder qualified for MIG on flat plate is not qualified for TIG on stainless pipe, and the order that needs the stainless work finds that out on the day.
This template lists processes and positions as separate skills and keeps welder qualifications next to them, because under most codes they lapse when they are not used.
Welding and fabrication skills matrix, Excel
The matrix below, a qualification log with expiry dates and a cross-training plan. Free, no email needed. Opens in Excel, or in Google Sheets through File, Import.
The example it opens on
Fabrication shop, 6 people. Levels 0 to 4, where only 3 and 4 count as coverage. Training status is the number at level 3 or higher minus the number the station needs.
| Skill | Welder A | Welder B | Welder C | Welder D | Welder E | Welder F | Needed | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMAW (MIG), flat and horizontal | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | +2 |
| GMAW (MIG), vertical and overhead | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | - | - | 2 | ✓ |
| FCAW | 3 | 2 | 3 | - | 1 | - | 2 | ✓ |
| GTAW (TIG), stainless | 3 | - | - | 1 | - | - | 2 | −1 |
| Fit-up and tacking | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | +3 |
| Blueprint reading and weld symbols not critical | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | +1 |
| Visual weld inspection | 3 | 2 | 1 | - | - | - | 2 | −1 |
Two rows read −1. TIG on stainless: only Welder A is qualified and current. Welder D was, but has not welded stainless for more than six months, so the qualification lapsed and D is back at level 1 on the log. Visual weld inspection: only A can inspect alone, so A ends up both welding and checking the stainless work.
What is different in welding and fabrication
Process and position are the skill
Write rows the way the welding procedure and the qualification test describe them: process, material, position. "Welding" as one row hides every gap that matters.
Qualifications lapse when unused
Under AWS D1.1 a welder's qualification stays in effect as long as the welder keeps using the process, and lapses after more than six months without it. Log the last date each process was used, not only the test date.
Separate welding from inspecting
The person who checks the weld should not be the only one who can make it. Give visual inspection its own row and coverage rule.
Qualifications and expiry
| Qualification | Interval | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Welder performance qualification (AWS D1.1) | Remains in effect while the process is used; lapses after more than 6 months without using it | AWS D1.1, Structural Welding Code, Steel |
| Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) | Renewal every 3 years | AWS QC1 |
Other codes (ASME Section IX, ISO 9606) set their own continuity rules. Use the one your customers and procedures name, and set the Valid for column on the log to match.
The template's Qualification log calculates each expiry date and flags anything due within 30 days or overdue.
The cross-training plan
Every gap becomes a dated entry with a trainee and a trainer. In the example:
| Skill | Trainee | Level | Trainer | Practice | Assessed by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GTAW (TIG), stainless | Welder D | 1 → 3 | Welder A | Practice coupons twice a week, then requalification test | 2026-12-04 |
| Visual weld inspection | Welder B | 2 → 3 | Welder A | Inspect every second stainless job with A | 2027-01-15 |
The method behind it
The levels, the evidence for each one and the coverage rules are explained in the skills matrix guide, with a worked example from an assembly cell. When the matrix has to cover several teams, shifts or sites, see how skills matrix software in TeamGuru counts the gaps the same way for all of them and shows, per skill, who is expired or expiring soon. Comparing tools? Start with the buyer's guide.
Templates for other areas:
Frequently asked questions
How should welding skills be listed on a skills matrix?
By process, material and position, the way your welding procedures and qualification tests describe them: for example GMAW on carbon steel in flat and horizontal positions, or GTAW on stainless pipe. One generic welding row hides the gaps.
How long does a welder qualification last?
Under AWS D1.1 it remains in effect indefinitely as long as the welder keeps using the process, and lapses when the welder has not used it for more than six months, or when there is a specific reason to question their ability. Other codes set their own rules.
Can the matrix track continuity?
Yes. Log each qualification with the date the process was last used and a validity of six months. The template's Qualification log then flags welders whose continuity is about to lapse.