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CSWIP 3.1 Certified · Independent · South Shields, UK

CTS Quality
Inspection

More Than Inspection — Independent QA/QC Support
That Keeps Projects Moving

Professional, independent welding inspection and QA/QC documentation services for high-specification fabrication environments. Nuclear, Defence, Subsea, Power Generation and Structural Steel sectors.

10+
Years in fabrication & inspection
5+
Industry sectors served
8
International standards applied
ISO 5817 ISO 3834 EN 1090 ASME IX ISO 9606-1 BS 4872 AWS D1.1 ISO 9001 CSWIP 3.1 Visual Testing (VT) NDT Coordination Nuclear QA Defence Fabrication Subsea Structures ISO 5817 ISO 3834 EN 1090 ASME IX ISO 9606-1 BS 4872 AWS D1.1 ISO 9001 CSWIP 3.1 Visual Testing (VT) NDT Coordination Nuclear QA Defence Fabrication Subsea Structures
The inspector
Christopher Shippen
CSWIP 3.1 Welding Inspector
CSWIP 3.1 Certified
10+ Years Fabrication
CSCS Card Holder
Full UK Driving Licence
Client experience includes
Sellafield
BAE Systems
IHC
SMD
Wilton Engineering
About CTS

Independent inspection you can rely on — from someone who understands fabrication

CTS Quality Inspection is an independent welding inspection and QA/QC consultancy operated by Christopher Shippen, a CSWIP 3.1 certified welding inspector with over a decade of hands-on fabrication and inspection experience.

Unlike large inspection firms, CTS offers direct access to a senior inspector with real shop-floor and site experience — someone who understands the demands of high-specification fabrication, not just the paperwork.

Independent and impartial — no conflict of interest with production teams
Direct access to your inspector — no account managers or layers of bureaucracy
Reports delivered same day or next day — professionally formatted and client-ready
Nuclear and Defence experience — highest levels of traceability and compliance
What we do

Inspection & QA/QC services

End-to-end quality support — from pre-weld planning through to final inspection, documentation and sign-off.

🔍
Visual Welding Inspection

CSWIP 3.1 certified visual inspection at every stage — pre-weld, in-process and post-weld — to the relevant standard and client specification.

Pre-weld fit-up and preparation checks
In-process interpass inspection
Post-weld VT to ISO 5817, EN 1090, ASME IX
Dimensional verification against drawings
Final inspection and sign-off
📋
QA/QC Documentation

Professional, traceable documentation produced to client-ready standard. From NCRs raised on site to complete turnover packs on completion.

Non-Conformance Reports (NCRs)
Weld Inspection Reports (WIRs)
Daily QA/QC site reports
ITP preparation and sign-off
Turnover and handover pack compilation
📐
Traceability & WPS Support

Full material and weld traceability management, WPS and PQR review, welder qualification verification and audit support.

Weld map and traceability matrix
Heat number and material cert verification
WPS / PQR review and compliance check
Welder qualification register management
Weld audit reports
🔬
NDT Coordination

Arrangement and coordination of all NDE/NDT requirements — from scope definition through to subcontractor management and report review.

PT, MT, UT, RT — scope and coordination
NDT subcontractor management
Inspection information sheet preparation
NDT report review and acceptance
ITP & Hold Point Management

Preparation, review and execution of Inspection & Test Plans — attending hold points, witness points and surveillance activities on your behalf.

ITP creation and review
Hold point attendance and sign-off
Client and third-party witness coordination
FAT and WIT witnessing
📦
Project & Final Documentation

Structured documentation management throughout the project lifecycle — ensuring complete, traceable quality records ready for client handover.

Project quality file management
NCR close-out and corrective action tracking
Final documentation pack compilation
Punch list management and close-out
Industry experience

Sectors we serve

⚛️
Nuclear

Safety-critical fabrications, support structures and specialist components for the nuclear industry. Zero-tolerance traceability and documentation standards applied throughout.

Client experience: Sellafield supply chain
🛡️
Defence

Precision fabrications and assemblies for defence applications. Full traceability, welder qualification control and compliance with demanding client specifications.

Client experience: BAE Systems supply chain
🌊
Subsea & Marine

Offshore structures, wire deflectors, ROV components and subsea fabrications. Experience with specialist materials including Super Duplex and high-integrity weld requirements.

Client experience: IHC · SMD (Soil Machine Dynamics)
Power Generation

Pressure systems, structural steelwork and mechanical fabrications for power generation facilities. Application of pressure vessel and structural codes as required.

Client experience: Wilton Engineering
🏗️
Structural Steel

General structural fabrication to EN 1090 execution classes EXC1 through EXC3. Weld inspection, dimensional verification and documentation to client and standard requirements.

EN 1090 · ISO 5817 · client specifications
🔬
Scientific & Renewables

Specialist precision fabrications for scientific research applications and renewables infrastructure including offshore wind support structures and bespoke assemblies.

Precision fabrication · specialist alloys
The CTS difference

Why clients choose CTS Quality Inspection

01
Hands-on fabrication background

Over a decade of welding and fabrication experience before inspection — I understand what I'm looking at, not just what the standard says.

02
Reports same day — every time

Professional, formatted inspection reports, NCRs and site reports delivered the same day or first thing the following morning. No chasing, no delays.

03
Genuinely independent

No commercial relationship with your production team. My job is to protect your quality — not to keep a production manager happy.

04
Nuclear and Defence ready

Direct experience in the most demanding fabrication environments in the UK. The traceability, compliance and documentation standards expected in Nuclear and Defence are what I work to as standard.

05
Flexible — when and where you need it

Available for short-notice site work, ongoing project support, retainer arrangements or standalone inspection days. No minimum commitment required.

10+
Years fabrication & inspection experience
5+
High-spec industry sectors
8
International standards applied
100%
Independent — no production conflicts

"Independent Welding Inspection + QA/QC Documentation + Digital Workflow Support — designed for the demands of high-specification fabrication."

Request inspection support →
Compliance

Standards & codes

All inspection activities carried out to the relevant British, European and international standards — with client-specific requirements applied where required.

ISO 5817
Weld quality levels — fusion welded joints in steel
ISO 3834
Quality requirements for fusion welding of metallic materials
EN 1090
Execution of steel and aluminium structures
ASME IX
Welding, brazing and fusing qualifications
ISO 9606-1
Qualification testing of welders — fusion welding
BS 4872
Approval testing of welders when welding procedure approval is not required
ISO 9001
Quality management systems — requirements
AWS D1.1
Structural welding code — steel
Materials
Carbon Steel S355J2 RQT / Q&T Steel 304L Stainless 316L Stainless Super Duplex Aluminium Alloys P91 / Cr-Mo
Documentation

What you receive

Every deliverable is professionally formatted, consistently structured and traceable — ready to submit directly to your client or end user.

CTS-WIR-001
Weld Inspection Report

Full visual inspection record — weld log, ISO 5817 acceptance criteria, dimensional checks, NCR cross-reference and inspector sign-off.

CTS-NCR-001
Non-Conformance Report

Formally worded NCR with defect description, standard reference, disposition, corrective action and close-out verification — 8 structured sections.

CTS-DSR-001
Daily Site Report

Professional daily QA/QC report — inspection activity log, weld count, NCR summary, hold point status and tomorrow's planned activities.

CTS-ITP-001
Inspection & Test Plan

26-activity ITP covering all inspection stages — pre-weld through final sign-off, with H/W/R/M coding and multi-party approval blocks.

CTS-WTM-001
Weld Traceability Matrix

Full material-to-weld traceability — heat numbers, mill certificates, welder stamps, WPS references and completion status all linked.

CTS-WQR-001
Welder Qualification Register

Welder register, WPS coverage matrix, 6-monthly continuity surveillance log and certificate expiry tracker — ISO 9606 / BS 4872 compliant.

CTS-Q
Quotation & Proposal

Transparent, itemised pricing — day rates, document services, expenses and terms clearly set out. Quote returned same day as enquiry.

Turnover Pack
Project Close-Out Pack

Complete project quality dossier at job completion — all inspection records, NCR close-outs, NDT reports, ITP sign-offs and traceability documents compiled and indexed.

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Download Capability Statement
CTS Quality Inspection — services, sectors, qualifications and contact details · PDF
Get in touch

Request inspection support or discuss your project

Whether you need a single inspection day, ongoing project support, or just want to discuss what CTS can offer — get in touch. I'll respond the same working day.

📧
chris@ctsqualityinspect.co.uk
Email — fastest response
📱
07304 082560
Mobile — available Mon–Fri
📍
South Shields, NE34 8BZ
Available throughout the UK
Typical response time
Same day
Email enquiries
24 hrs
Written quotes
Flexible
Availability
Request inspection support

Tell us about your project and we'll get back to you with availability and a quote.

Your details are kept confidential and used only to respond to your enquiry.

Enquiry received

Thank you for getting in touch. Christopher will respond to your enquiry the same working day.

📧
Email
chris@ctsqualityinspect.co.uk
Fastest response — same working day
📱
Mobile
07304 082560
Available Monday to Friday
📍
Location
South Shields, NE34 8BZ
Available for projects throughout the UK