Weld Monitoring System RFP Template | Inline Inspection Spec Guide

Why most weld monitoring projects stall in purchasing

The scenario is classic: the engineering team identifies a need for real-time monitoring to reduce scrap. They demo a few tools. Then, they toss a vague request to Purchasing: “We need a weld monitor.”

Purchasing asks for three quotes. Vendor A quotes a basic voltage logger (€5k). Vendor B quotes a high-end thermal AI system (€50k). Vendor C quotes a camera that just records video. The spread is confusing, the project looks risky, and it dies.

The fix is a clear specification (Spec) or Request for Proposal (RFP) that defines exactly what “monitoring” means for your process. This approach aligns with best practices from AWS D1.1 (Structural Welding Code) and ensures you aren’t comparing apples to oranges.

Key decisions before you write the RFP

Don’t start writing requirements until you answer these four questions:

1. Process scope: are we monitoring MIG/MAG, TIG, Laser, or Spot? (Each requires different sensors.)
2. Actionable output: do we just want to record data for traceability, or do we want to stop the robot instantly if a defect occurs?
3. Integration depth: does this need to talk to our MES/PLC? (e.g., “If weld fails, lock the pallet”.)
4. Standards context: are we trying to satisfy a specific clause in ISO 3834 (Quality requirements for fusion welding) or an automotive customer spec?

Functional requirements checklist

When specifying the system, use “SHALL” statements to define must-haves:

• Sensors: “System shall utilize non-contact thermal imaging to capture melt pool dynamics.”
• Defect detection: “System shall automatically detect porosity and lack of fusion anomalies with >95% accuracy.”
• Latency: “System shall process data and output a Go/No-Go signal within 500ms of weld completion.”
• Data storage: “System shall store raw data for 30 days and summary results for 10 years.”

See the implementation guide for more technical details. If you are looking for a turnkey solution that meets these specs, check out Therness HeatCore AI.

IT & cybersecurity considerations

Modern monitoring is often an IoT play. IT will block it if you don’t specify:

• OS: “Vendor PC must run Windows 10/11 IoT Enterprise or Linux.”
• Network: “Device shall not require open inbound ports from the internet.”
• User access: “System shall support tiered login (Operator, Engineer, Admin).”

RFP template (copy/paste)

Feel free to copy this structure into your Word document: