1. A method of quantifying a weld's quality by monitoring an electric arc welder as the welder performs a selected arc welding process by creating actual welding parameters between an advancing wire and a workpiece, said selected process controlled by command signals to a power supply of said welder, said method comprising: (a) generating a series of rapidly repeating wave shapes, each wave shape constituting a weld cycle with a cycle time; (b) dividing said wave shapes into states; (c) measuring a plurality of selected weld parameters occurring in one or more of said states at an interrogation rate over a period of time repeatedly during said welding process; and (d) calculating a plurality of quality parameters for each of said states based on said measurements of said selected weld parameters during said welding process, wherein said quality parameters represent an overall quality measurement of said weld.