a 20 b and to the already produced bead 50 or a complete layer in conjunction with the arc 40 and its parameters as a sensor it is therefore also possible with the submerged arc narrow gap welding method to provide automatic correction of the welding device se in relation to the workpiece sidewall as in the open welding methods tig mig mag without visual observation and intervention possibilities for this purpose the arc configuration is first predefined by selecting welding voltage and or welding current during the welding process the actual welding voltage and or the actual welding current on the wire electrode 30 are detected and analyzed the analysis of this data supplies the position of the arc 40 in relation to the adjacent workpiece sidewalls 20 a 20 b and to the underside of the gap 10 which is formed by a complete layer or a bead 50 after eliminating interference such as noise from the acquired data it can be seen that the welding voltage welding current characteristic of the arc 40 reacts sensitively to the distance between wire electrodes 30 and workpiece in this way the position of the arc 40 can be monitored on the basis of the actual welding data acquired the actual position of the arc 40 detected from the welding data of the arc 40 is transmitted to the control unit of the welding device se in order u2014 if necessary u2014 to correct the movement of the welding device se along the gap and or the oscillating.