The AWS is a nonprofit organization that strives to innovate new processes to advance the field of welding. The AWS does this by supporting welding education and technology development to improve industry processes, research and growth. The AWS serves more than 66,000 members worldwide. Its members include engineers, scientists, educators, researchers, welders, inspectors, welding foremen, company executives and officers. The AWS also consists of corporate members such as welding manufactures, independent welding shops, distributorship, end-users, educational institutions and more.