A drawn arc welding process that includes the steps of providing a work piece, providing a welding tool holding a metal object onto the work piece, providing a power supply outputting a preset current, providing an arc voltage sensing device, lifting the metal object and drawing a pilot arc current, energizing a welding current locally melting the metal object and forming a weld pool in the work piece, measuring an arc voltage, predicting the arc voltage for a remaining time of the welding process, regulating the time of the welding process wherein the measured arc voltage and predicted arc voltage are utilized to control a desired energy input set point, and plunging the fastener into the locally melted work piece forming a weld between the metal object and the work piece.