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Inspection Engineer Boosts Career with 20-Year Certification

Wed, 13 April, 2022

Syed Mazhar Ali Zaidi is an Inspection Engineer for Qatar Energy (previously known as Qatar Petroleum), with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. Within his role, Syed has responsibility, and is the company’s representative, for quality assurance and control. This includes: reviewing project specifications focused on quality aspects, for example front-end engineering design (FEED) and technical bed evaluation; reviewing and approving quality control documents such as non-destructive testing (NDT) procedures, and inspection and test plans; coordinating vendors’ inspections during procurement for plant and equipment; organising project site inspections and attending project meetings.

Syed began his longstanding relationship with TWI Certification Ltd (TWI CL) in 2002 when he gained his CSWIP– Welding Inspector certification. He told us that he sought out CSWIP certification via TWI CL “to become qualified as an expert in welding and painting inspections by an internationally recognised body like TWI Certification.” However “2002 was a very challenging year for me because the CSWIP– Welding Inspector course was not available in my county, so instead I completed it in Saudi Arabia, kindly funded by my employer, and passed it on my first attempt.”

Syed subsequently went on to achieve both CSWIP 3.2.2 – Senior Welding Inspector with Radiographic Interpretation and BGAS Grade 2 – Painting Inspector certification, and also holds American Petroleum Institute certificates in relation to undertaking in-line and shutdown inspection, required as part of his role.

We asked Syed how gaining CSWIP certifications has benefitted his career, and also whether he thought there were advantages in this for his employer. “These certifications helped me to deeply understand welding and coating/painting, and enhance my knowledge to a top level, which also gave me confidence and improved my career” said Syed “and with me being certified and qualified by TWI CL, and API, which are internationally recognised bodies, my employer is confident that they hired a qualified person for the inspection of welding and painting.”

Syed’s most recent interaction with TWI CL was when his CSWIP 3.2.2 certification was due for recertification in April 2020. Having submitted his application for verification and recertification on time, Syed then found himself unable to sit the required examination, due to the lack of availability of an approved examination venue arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. At this point, Syed approached TWI CL to ask for an extension on sitting his exam.

Fortunately, TWI CL had already put in place a CSWIP COVID-19 policy and process, and this provided Syed with an extension to his certificate’s expiry date and extra time in which to sit his exam.

Commenting on the service he received from TWI CL in renewing his CSWIP certification during such globally challenging times, Syed said “I believe the CSWIP COVID-19 policy was excellent as it enabled certificate holders like myself to retain valid status while waiting to be able to sit their exams.” Going on to explain “It helped me a lot and safe-guarded my job, as it is a requirement of my employer that I continue to maintain and update my certifications. Therefore, I would like to thank the TWI CL team and management for accepting my request for an extension which, due to the changing situation of the pandemic, I had to make a number of times.”

Fast forward to today, and Syed now has 22+ years’ experience in project management quality assurance and quality control activities for the oil and gas, and petrochemical sectors. He has spent eight years in inspection operations covering in-service, NDT and welding inspection, corrosion monitoring and hydro testing. Ongoing NDT work includes on-stream and new fabrication, and erection inspection of above and underground storage tanks, while welding inspection covers activities related to the fit-up and welding of different oil and gas pipelines, chiller systems and blow lines, reviewing ASME welding codes, and radiographic testing films, and more.

Finally, we asked Syed what advice he would give to someone contemplating CSWIP or BGAS-CSWIP certification, as well as what he thought his next career steps might. “I would tell them that these certification schemes can boost their career, and support them to become an expert in in welding and painting inspections, and for myself, I would like to become a manager in due course.”

We send our very best wishes to Syed and look forward to assisting him with certification in the future as he continues to develop and progress his career..

If you are interested in gaining CSWIP or BGAS-CSWIP certification, please visit the Certification pages on the CSWIP website to find out more.

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