A method for monitoring and controlling a vibration welding system includes collecting sensory data during formation of a welded joint using sensors positioned with respect to welding interfaces of a work piece. A host machine extracts a feature set from a welding signature collectively defined by the sensory data, compares and correlates the feature set with validated information in a library, and executes a control action(s) when the present feature set insufficiently matches the information. A welding system includes a sonotrode, sensors, and the host machine. The host machine is configured to execute the method noted above.