Described herein is a method for controlling the quality of a laser-welding process, for example of laser welds of semifinished products constituted by elements of sheet metal of different thickness and/or properties (“tailored blanks”), of the type that comprises the steps of: detecting a radiation (E*) produced in the welding area (2, 3) and issuing signals (E*) indicating said radiation; acquiring and processing said signals (E*) indicating said radiation; making a division into blocks of said signals (E*) indicating said radiation; calculating (205) for each block a block-mean value (u) and a value of block standard deviation (o); and in supplying input values comprising block-mean values (u) and values standard deviation (o) for identifying defects and/or porosities and insufficient penetration.