Quality & Precision Fabrication in Ontario

Quality and precision fabrication at WeFab in Leamington, Ontario, starts at the cutting head and runs through weld inspection and final release.

Precision begins long before production. Laser-cut hole locations are held to ±0.005 inches, and every new part undergoes a first-article inspection before full production begins. Standardized processes and consistent setups help ensure repeatable quality from the first component to the last.

Our team also works closely with customers during quoting to establish achievable tolerances based on the material, geometry, and manufacturing process. The result is high-quality components that meet specifications, fit together accurately, and perform as expected.

How We Hold Fabrication Quality and Precision Control

WeFab holds precision through programmed CNC cutting, standardized setups, and staged inspection. Fiber lasers place holes to ±0.005 in, new parts pass first-article inspection, non-conformances are logged in custom rework-tracking software, and HoloLens 2 model checks run on demand.

Hole positions, copes, and slots are cut on BLM and Bystronic fiber lasers from Lantek-nested programs, so fit-up is set by the cut file rather than hand layout. Drawings are controlled through SolidWorks PDM, so the shop builds to the current revision.

Quality control	How WeFab handles it
Laser hole positioning	±0.005 in (BLM and Bystronic fiber lasers)
Waterjet positional accuracy	±0.005 in (OMAX 80X)
First-article inspection	Every new part, before full production
In-process inspection frequency	Set by project volume
Welding certification	CWB W47.1 Division 2 (Company Code DENDE1, held by parent company SEF)
Qualified weld procedures	60+ WPS
Weld inspector on staff	Jacob Froese, CSA W178.2 Level 1 (CWB Reg. #4046083)
Third-party inspection	CWB inspector and GS Inspections
NDT (UT, RT, PT, MT)	Subcontracted to qualified third parties
Non-conformance handling	Custom rework-tracking software
3D model verification	HoloLens 2, on demand, in the shop
Part identification	SIC Marking P63 dot peen at QC; laser etching on cut parts
Dedicated metrology equipment	Not operated

First-article inspection (FAI): A full check of the first part produced from a new program or setup against its drawing before the rest of the run is released. Catching an error on part one prevents it from being repeated across a production lot.

Mill test report (MTR): The steel mill’s certificate listing a heat’s chemical composition and mechanical properties. MTRs let an engineer or owner confirm that the material in the structure matches the grade specified.

Inspection Stages: How Our Quality Process Works

Inspection at WeFab runs in five stages: requirements agreed at project start, first-article inspection, in-process checks scaled to volume, weld inspection by an on-staff CWI with third-party support, and final verification with dot-peen marking before shipment.

Step 1: Agree quality requirements at project start

Inspection points, FAI report format, MTRs, and any third-party or NDT requirements are set with the customer before release to production.

Step 2: First-article inspection

The first part off each new laser, waterjet, or brake program is checked against its drawing. Production is released only once that part conforms. Cutting details are covered under Sheet & Plate Laser Cutting.

Step 3: In-process checks

Inspection frequency scales with project volume; standardized setups keep repeat parts matched to the approved first article.

Step 4: Weld inspection

Welds are inspected in-house by the on-staff Certified Welding Inspector. When the specification calls for it, WeFab brings in the CWB inspector or GS Inspections, and arranges subcontracted NDT.

Step 5: Final verification, marking, and release

On request, assemblies are checked against their IFC, Tekla, or STEP model with HoloLens 2; any discrepancy is reworked in-house and logged. Where the project calls for it, parts are dot-peen marked at QC for traceability in the field.

Who Inspects, and Why Project Teams Trust WeFab Quality Control

Weld inspection at WeFab is led by Jacob Froese, a CSA W178.2 Level 1 Certified Welding Inspector registered with the CWB. Independent inspection comes from the CWB inspector and GS Inspections, and all NDT is performed by qualified subcontractors.

Welding at WeFab operates under South Essex Fabricating Inc.’s CWB W47.1 Division 2 certification (Company Code DENDE1). WeFab is SEF’s fabrication division, and the certification covers weld work in the Leamington shop, subject to recurring CWB audit. See Welding & Assembly for processes and capacity.

Named, credentialed inspector on staff: Jacob Froese, CSA W178.2 Level 1
Independent third-party inspection from the CWB inspector and GS Inspections
Non-conformances tracked in custom rework-tracking software through close-out
$10M general liability and $30M bonding capacity, sized for industrial and data centre work
Clear scope: no in-house NDT, no dedicated metrology equipment, and no third-party quality-management-system registration

Documentation Supplied per Project: Agreed at Project Start

WeFab does not ship a one-size QC package. FAI reports, mill test reports, and inspection records are supplied to match the customer requirements set at project start, so each project receives exactly the documentation its specification calls for.

If your specification lists MTRs, they are supplied. FAI report format is agreed during intake. Third-party weld inspection or NDT is scheduled with GS Inspections, the CWB inspector, or a qualified NDT subcontractor. List these requirements in your RFQ so they are priced from day one.

Traceability is physical as well as written. On a recent warehouse project, every beam was dot-peen marked for faster field layout. See Dot Peen Marking.

Service Area: Ontario First, US Projects by Arrangement

WeFab supplies inspected, traceable fabrication across Ontario. Our core service area is Windsor-Essex, London, Kitchener-Waterloo, Hamilton, and the Greater Toronto Area, direct from our Leamington shop, for data centre, warehouse, manufacturing, power and utility, agricultural, and industrial projects. US work is available by arrangement.

Shop inspection happens at the 208,000 sq ft Leamington facility before parts ship on WeFab’s owned fleet. Food processing is not supported.

Frequently Asked Questions

What tolerances can WeFab hold on laser-cut parts?

WeFab holds laser-cut hole positions to ±0.005 in on its BLM and Bystronic fiber lasers, and the OMAX waterjet holds the same ±0.005 in positional accuracy. Every new part receives first-article inspection before full production is released.

Does WeFab do NDT in-house?

No. Ultrasonic, radiographic, dye penetrant, and magnetic particle testing are subcontracted to qualified third parties. Weld inspection in the shop is handled by WeFab’s CSA W178.2 Certified Welding Inspector, with the CWB inspector and GS Inspections available for independent inspection.

Will I get mill test reports and an inspection report with my order?

Yes, when they are listed as requirements at the start of the project. WeFab does not issue a standard QC package; mill test reports, first-article inspection results, and inspection records are supplied in the format your specification calls for.

How does WeFab check large assemblies without a measuring arm?

WeFab does not operate dedicated metrology equipment. Accuracy is set by CNC cutting to ±0.005 in, confirmed by first-article inspection, and assemblies can be compared against their 3D model with HoloLens 2 on demand.

Request a Fabrication Quality and Precision Control Review

Send drawings and quality requirements together, and WeFab will confirm how fabrication quality and precision control in Ontario will be handled on your project (inspection points, documentation, and third-party testing) before you commit.

Call 548-919-0125 or email sales@wefab.ca to start a project.