An automated welding apparatus and computer-implemented method are described which generally perform the steps of: scanning a joint interface of a workpiece using a three-dimensional scanner (S4); determining a volume to be filled by a welding process (S6); determining a specification for the welding process based on the volume to be filled using an algorithm (S8, S10); and controlling a welding device so as to execute the specification by moving the welding device relative to the workpiece (S12).