As numerical algorithms and software for computational weld mechanics (CWM) near maturity and the cost of computing becomes negligible, we expect research in CWM to change rapidly and dramatically. Industrial people, experimentalists and modelers, who have up to now tended to work separately on relatively small research projects, will form more tightly knit teams that work on much larger projects. The goal will be to reduce uncertainty in product design, development, production and service performance for welded structures. The key technologies needed to manage distortion, residual stress and failure modes in welded structures are expected to be sensor development, data acquisition, material properties and statistical-probabilistic analyses. Software to support collaboration will be critical to success. Some very modest progress towards this vision will be presented.