Systems and methods supporting weld quality across a manufacturing environment

A system supporting weld quality across a manufacturing environment, the system comprising:

• a plurality of manufacturing cells within a manufacturing environment, wherein each manufacturing cell of the plurality of manufacturing cells includes a cell controller and welding equipment;
• a central controller;
• and
• a communication network operatively connected to the central controller and the plurality of manufacturing cells and configured to support data communications between the central controller and the cell controller of each of the plurality of manufacturing cells,
• wherein the central controller is configured to:
• collect actual weld parameter data from the cell controller of each of the plurality of manufacturing cells, via the communication network, to form aggregated weld parameter data for a same type of workpiece being welded in each of the plurality of manufacturing cells, wherein the actual weld parameter data include values and ranges of actual welding parameters used by the welding equipment in each of the plurality of manufacturing cells to weld the same type of workpiece,
• analyze the aggregated weld parameter data to generate updated weld settings for the same type of workpiece being welded in each of the plurality of manufacturing cells, and
• communicate the updated weld settings to the cell controller of each of the plurality of manufacturing cells via the communication network.