Why experience alone may not be enough — and a practical four-step method for answering inspection scenarios? By Victorio Ford Claveria (VFC) — Mechanical and QA/QC professional with over 30 years of experience in construction, fabrication, welding, and quality management across Asia and the Middle East. Experience is valuable. But is it enough? Imagine two QC inspectors preparing for a technical competency examination. The first has 15 years of field experience. He has inspected hundreds of welds, witnessed pressure tests, reviewed material certificates, and resolved countless construction problems. The second has less experience but has spent considerable time studying the applicable standards, inspection procedures, documentation requirements, and limitations of inspector authority. Who is better prepared? The answer is not necessarily the inspector with more years of experience. Experience develops practical judgment, but effective technical examination preparation also requires a...