Mechatronics assembler

Mechatronics assemblers assemble and maintain complex mechatronic equipment and machines, such as robots, elevators, and advanced home appliances. They build the mechanical, electrical, and electronic components, install software, set the systems in operation, and maintain and repair the components and systems.

Mechatronics assemblers work in manufacturing plants, and working conditions vary by plant and by industry. Many physically difficult tasks, such as tightening massive bolts or moving heavy parts into position, have been automated or made easier through the use of power tools. Assembly work, however, may still involve long periods of standing, sitting, or working on ladders.

Some mechatronics assemblers come into contact with potentially dangerous chemicals or fumes, but ventilation systems usually minimize any harmful effects. Other assemblers come into contact with oil and grease, and their work areas may be noisy.

Most mechatronics assemblers work full time. Some assemblers work in shifts, which may require evening, weekend, and night work.

The following job titles also refer to mechatronics assembler:

mechatronics installer
mechatronic equipment production assembler
mechatronics fitter
robotic equipment inspector
robotic equipment supervisor
mechatronic equipment repairer
mechatronic equipment inspector
robotic fitter
robotic equipment operator
mechatronic equipment supervisor
assembler in mechatronic equipment manufacture
robotic assembler
mechatronic installer
assembler of mechatronic equipment
mechatronic equipment constructor
robotic equipment repairer
mechatronic equipment fabricator
mechatronic equipment operator
mechatronic assembly technician
mechatronic equipment assembler
constructor of mechatronic equipment
mechatronics fabricator

A high school diploma is typically required to work as a mechatronics assembler. Employers usually provide on-the-job training.

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.

Mechatronics assembler is a Skill level 2 occupation.

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

electronic equipment assembler
precision instrument assembler
precision device inspector
dental instrument assembler
semiconductor processor

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

mechatronics engineering technician
automation engineering technician
robotics engineering technician
computer hardware test technician
instrumentation engineering technician

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

• 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.
• Computer equipment: The offered computers, computer peripheral equipment and software products, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.
• Safety engineering: The engineering discipline used to ensure that systems, machines and equipment work according to the set safety standards and laws, such as environmental law.
• 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.

These skills are necessary for the role of mechatronics 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.
• Monitor machine operations: Observing machine operations and evaluating product quality thereby ensuring conformity to standards.
• 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.
• Troubleshoot: Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.
• Remove defective products: Remove defective materials from the production line.
• Install mechatronic equipment: Install equipment used for the automation of a specific machine or device.
• Align components: Align and lay out components in order to put them together correctly according to blueprints and technical plans.
• Read standard blueprints: Read and comprehend standard blueprints, machine, and process drawings.
• Follow safety standards in industrial contexts: Apply basic safety standards and machine-specific technical standards to prevent risks connected with the use of machines in the workplace.
• Maintain mechatronic equipment: Diagnose and detect malfunctions in mechatronics components and systems and remove, replace, or repair these components when necessary. Execute preventative equipment maintenance tasks, such as storing mechatronics components in clean, dust-free, and non-humid spaces.
• Meet deadlines: Ensure operative processes are finished at a previously agreed-upon time.
• Clean components during assembly: Clean components before fixing them to other compounds or units of components during the assembly process.
• Assemble mechatronic units: Assemble mechatronic units using mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, electrical, electronic, and information technology systems and components. Manipulate and attach metals through using welding and soldering techniques, glue, screws, and rivets. Install wiring. Install drive systems, sensors, actuators, and transducers. Mount switches, control devices, coverings, and protection.
• Perform metal work: Work with metal and iron materials in order to assemble individual pieces or structures.
• 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 mechatronics assembler. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Circuit diagrams: Read and comprehend circuit diagrams showing the connections between the devices, such as power and signal connections.
• 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.
• Electronics principles: The study of electric energy, more specifically electron, control and its prominent principles regarding integrated circuits and electrical systems.
• Electrical discharge: The qualities and applications of electrical discharge, including voltage and electrodes.
• Hydraulics: The power transmission systems that use the force of flowing liquids to transmit power.
• Computer engineering: Engineering discipline that combines computer science with electrical engineering to develop computer hardware and software. Computer engineering occupies itself with electronics, software design, and the integration of hardware and software.
• Mechanical engineering: Discipline that applies principles of physics, engineering and materials science to design, analyse, manufacture and maintain mechanical systems.
• ICT system programming: The methods and tools required to develop system software, specifications of system architectures and interfacing techniques between network and system modules and components.
• Instrumentation engineering: The science and engineering discipline that attempts to control process variables of production and manufacturing. It also focuses on the design of systems with desired behaviours. These systems use sensors to measure the output performance of the device that is being controlled.
• Pneumatics: The application of pressurised gas to produce mechanical motion.
• Robotics: The branch of engineering that involves the design, operation, manufacture, and application of robots. Robotics is part of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science and overlaps with mechatronics and automation engineering.
• 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 mechatronics assembler. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Keep up with digital transformation of industrial processes: Keep up to date with digital innovations applicable to industrial processes. Integrate these transformations in the company’s processes aiming for competitive and profitable business models.
• 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.
• Carry out measurements of parts: Operate measurement instruments to measure parts of manufactured objects. Take into consideration specifications of manufacturers to perform the measuring.
• 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.
• Operate precision measuring equipment: Measure the size of a processed part when checking and marking it to check if it is up to standard by use of two and three dimensional precision measuring equipment such as a caliper, a micrometer, and a measuring gauge.
• Test mechatronic units: Test mechatronic units using appropriate equipment. Gather and analyse data. Monitor and evaluate system performance and take action if needed.
• Use CAM software: Use computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) programmes to control machinery and machine tools in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimisation as part of the manufacturing processes of workpieces.
• Assemble robots: Assemble robotic machines, devices, and components according to engineering drawings. Program and install the necessary components of robotic systems, such as robot controllers, conveyors, and end-of-arm tools.
• Install automation components: Install the automation components according to the specifications of the circuit diagram.
• Assemble machines: Put together devices, and components according to drawings. Program and install the components where needed.
• Replace defect components: Remove defective parts and replace them with functioning components.
• 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.
• Check system parameters against reference values: Make sure that the measurable factors which define the operation of a system correspond to the predetermined norms.
• Replace machines: Evaluate when to invest in replacing machines or machine tools and take the necessary actions.
• Program firmware: Program permanent software with a read-only memory (ROM) on a hardware device, such as an integrated circuit.
• Set up the controller of a machine: Set up and give commands to a machine by dispatching the appropriate data and input into the (computer) controller corresponding with the desired processed product.
• 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.

8211 – Mechanical machinery assemblers

---

References

1. ESCO
2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
3. Featured image: By NearEMPTiness – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0