Electronic equipment assembler

Electronic equipment assemblers are responsible for the assembly of electronic equipment and systems. They assemble electronic components and wiring according to blueprints and assembly drawings. They may assist in quality inspection and equipment maintenance.

The following job titles also refer to electronic equipment assembler:

electronics assembler
electronic equipment products production operative
electrical and electronic equipment assembler
assembler of electronics
electronic equipment fabricator
electrical and electronic equipment fabricator
electronic assembler
electronic equipment products assembler
electronic equipment products assembly worker
electronic equipment production worker
fabricator of electronic equipment
electronic equipment products production worker
assembler electronic equipment products
assembler of electronic equipment
electronic equipment products wirer/assembler
electronic equipment products assembly operative
electronic equipment production operative
electronic equipment products wirer

A high school diploma is generally the minimum required to work as an electronic equipment assembler.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Electronic equipment assembler is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to electronic equipment assembler.

marine electronics technician
electronic equipment inspector
surface-mount technology machine operator
semiconductor processor
precision instrument assembler

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of electronic equipment assembler. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of electronic equipment assembler with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

electronics engineering technician
electronics production supervisor
computer hardware test technician
instrumentation engineering technician
automation engineering technician

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of electronic equipment assembler.

• Circuit diagrams: Read and comprehend circuit diagrams showing the connections between the devices, such as power and signal connections.
• Electronic equipment standards: The national and international quality and safety standards and regulations with regards to the use and manufacture of electronic equipment and its components, such as semiconductors and printed circuit boards.
• Electrical equipment regulations: The national and international regulations with regards to the use and manufacture of electrical equipment on the workfloor. These regulations provide rules and guidelines on topics such as general risk management, electrical equipment manufacture, electrical equipment testing, electrical equipment installation, warning labels, and certificates.
• Integrated circuits: Electronic components, made up from a set of electronic circuits which are placed on semiconductor material, such as silicon. Integrated circuits (IC) can hold billions of electronic components on a microscale and are one of basic components of electronic devices.
• Types of electronics: The different categories of electronics, such as consumer electronics, medical devices, microelectronics, computers, information and communication equipment, and measuring equipment.
• Printed circuit boards: Printed circuit boards (PCB) are essential components to almost all electronic devices. They consist of thin wafers or substrates on which electronic components, such as microchips, are placed. The electronic components are electrically connected through conductive tracks and pads.
• Quality standards: The national and international requirements, specifications and guidelines to ensure that products, services and processes are of good quality and fit for purpose.
• Electronics: The functioning of electronic circuit boards, processors, chips, and computer hardware and software, including programming and applications. Apply this knowledge to ensure electronic equipment runs smoothly.

These skills are necessary for the role of electronic equipment assembler.

• Apply soldering techniques: Apply and work with a variety of techniques in the process of soldering, such as soft soldering, silver soldering, induction soldering, resistance soldering, pipe soldering, mechanical and aluminium soldering.
• Apply assembly techniques: Apply correct and up-to-date assembly methods in the production development process.
• Solder electronics: Operate and use soldering tools and soldering iron, which supply high temperatures to melt the solder and to join electronic components.
• Read assembly drawings: Read and interpret drawings listing all the parts and subassemblies of a certain product. The drawing identifies the different components and materials and provides instructions on how to assemble a product.
• Carry out measurements of parts: Operate measurement instruments to measure parts of manufactured objects. Take into consideration specifications of manufacturers to perform the measuring.
• Remove defective products: Remove defective materials from the production line.
• Monitor manufacturing quality standards: Monitor quality standards in manufacturing and finishing process.
• Assemble electronic units: Assemble and maintain electronic components and electronic circuits.
• Align components: Align and lay out components in order to put them together correctly according to blueprints and technical plans.
• Meet deadlines: Ensure operative processes are finished at a previously agreed-upon time.
• Report defective manufacturing materials: Maintain required company records and forms in order to report any defective materials or questionable conditions of manufacturing machinery and equipment.
• Fasten components: Fasten components together according to blueprints and technical plans in order to create subassemblies or finished products.
• Apply health and safety standards: Adhere to standards of hygiene and safety established by respective authorities.
• Ensure conformity to specifications: Ensure that the assembled products are conform to the specifications given.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of electronic equipment assembler. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Crimping: The joining of two pieces of metal together by deforming one or both so they fit into each other.
• Electromechanics: The engineering processes that combine electrical and mechanical engineering in the application of electromechanics in devices that need electricity to create mechanical movement or devices that create electricity by mechanical movement.
• Microelectronics: Microelectronics is a subdiscipline of electronics and relates the study, design, and manufacture of small electronic components, such as microchips.
• Programmable logic controller: Programmable logic controllers or PLC’s are computer control systems used for the monitoring and control of input and output as well as the automation of electromechanical processes.
• Consumer electronics: The functioning of electronic consumer goods such as TVs, radios, cameras and other audio and video equipment.
• Power electronics: The functioning, design, and usage of electronics that control and convert electric power. Power conversion systems are usually categorised as AC-DC or rectifiers, DC-AC or inverters, DC-DC converters, and AC-AC converters.
• Microprocessors: Computer processors on a microscale that integrate the computer central processing unit (CPU) on a single chip.
• Electricity: Understand the principles of electricity and electrical power circuits, as well as the associated risks.
• Mechatronics: Multidisciplinary field of engineering that combines principles of electrical engineering, telecommunications engineering, control engineering, computer engineering, and mechanical engineering in the design of products and manufacturing processes. The combination of these areas of engineering allows for the design and development of “smart” devices and the achievement of an optimal balance between mechanical structure and control.
• Computer technology: Computers, computer networks and other information technologies and equipment that can store, retrieve, transmit and manipulate data.
• Automation technology: Set of technologies that make a process, system, or apparatus operate automatically through the use of control systems.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of electronic equipment assembler. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Inspect quality of products: Use various techniques to ensure the product quality is respecting the quality standards and specifications. Oversee defects, packaging and sendbacks of products to different production departments.
• Resolve equipment malfunctions: Identify, report and repair equipment damage and malfunctions; communicate with field representatives and manufacturers to obtain repair and replacement components.
• Measure electrical characteristics: Measure voltage, current, resistance or other electrical characteristics by using electrical measuring equipment such as multimeters, voltmeters, and ammeters.
• Install hardware: Assemble the necessary hardware components, such as the motherboard, Central Processing Unit (CPU), hard drive, disk drive, power supply unit, RAM, PCI card, mouse, keyboard, cameras and other necessary components to build the computer device. Attach the components manually using screwdrivers or use assembly machines and install the wiring.
• Oversee logistics of finished products: Ensure that the processes of packing, storage and shipment of finished products meet the requirements.
• Dispose of hazardous waste: Dispose of dangerous materials such as chemical or radioactive substances according to environmental and to health and safety regulations.
• Use diagnostic tools for electronic repairs: Use diagnostic equipment to measure current, resistance and voltage. Handle sophisticated multimeters to measure inductance, capacitance and current transistor gain.
• Perform test run: Perform tests putting a system, machine, tool or other equipment through a series of actions under actual operating conditions in order to assess its reliability and suitability to realise its tasks, and adjust settings accordingly.
• Assemble printed circuit boards: Attach electronic components to the printed circuit board through applying soldering techniques. Electronic components are placed in holes in through-hole assembly (THT), or are placed on the surface of PCB in surface-mount assembly (SMT).
• Pack electronic equipment: Safely pack sensitive electronic equipment for storage and transport.
• Wear appropriate protective gear: Wear relevant and necessary protective gear, such as protective goggles or other eye protection, hard hats, safety gloves.
• Replace defect components: Remove defective parts and replace them with functioning components.
• Calibrate electronic instruments: Correct and adjust the reliability of an electronic instrument by measuring output and comparing results with the data of a reference device or a set of standardised results. This is done in regular intervals which are set by the manufacturer and using calibration devices.
• Maintain electronic systems: Calibrate and maintain electronic systems; execute preventive equipment maintenance tasks.
• Clean components during assembly: Clean components before fixing them to other compounds or units of components during the assembly process.
• Repair wiring: Find faults in wires or cables by using specialised equipment and repair these faults depending on type of wiring.
• Check system parameters against reference values: Make sure that the measurable factors which define the operation of a system correspond to the predetermined norms.
• Test electronic units: Test electronic units using appropriate equipment. Gather and analyse data. Monitor and evaluate system performance and take action if needed.
• Liaise with engineers: Collaborate with engineers to ensure common understanding and discuss product design, development and improvement.
• Install software: Install machine-readable instructions, such as computer programs, in order to direct the computer’s processor to perform a certain set of actions.
• Keep records of work progress: Maintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.
• Program firmware: Program permanent software with a read-only memory (ROM) on a hardware device, such as an integrated circuit.
• Adjust manufacturing equipment: Regulate and monitor the manufacturing equipment settings and process parameters, such as its temperature and power level. Review the manufacturing process and equipment and suggest improvements.
• Interpret technical information for electronic repair work: Analyse and understand given technical information for electronic repair work.
• Repair electronic components: Repair, replace or adjust damaged electronics components or circuitry; use hand tools and soldering and welding equipment.

8212 – Electrical and electronic equipment assemblers

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References

1. Electronic equipment assembler – ESCO