Motor vehicle assembler

Motor vehicle assemblers install and put prefabricated motor vehicle parts and components together. They inspect the motor vehicles for defects, and test the assembled equipment for proper performance and conformity to quality standards.

Motor vehicle assemblers typically do the following:

• read electrical plans, blueprints and other technical diagrams
• fasten motor vehicle parts and components together using hand and power tools and equipment
• operate and tend automated assembling equipment such as robotic and fixed automation equipment
• connect cables, tubes and wires to complete components and installations
• position and install parts, components and accessories such as engines, transmissions, door panels or instrument panels using hand and power tools and other aids like overhead hoists
• fit and adjust parts such as doors, hoods and trunk lids

Motor vehicle 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 motor vehicle 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 motor vehicle assemblers work full time. Some assemblers work in shifts, which may require evening, weekend, and night work.

The following job titles also refer to motor vehicle assembler:

automobile assembler
truck builder
motor vehicle builder
motor vehicle assembly tester
motor vehicle assemblies inspector
lorry production line worker
lorry builder
auto assembler
car factory operative
lorry assembler
car production line worker
car assembler
car builder
motor vehicle assemblies tester
car factory worker
motor vehicle assembly inspector
truck production line worker
motor vehicle body builder

A high school diploma is typically required to work as a motor vehicle 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.

Motor vehicle assembler is a Skill level 2 occupation.

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

motor vehicle parts assembler
motor vehicle engine assembler
vessel engine assembler
aircraft gas turbine engine overhaul technician
aircraft engine assembler

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

motor vehicle engine inspector
rolling stock engine tester
motor vehicle engine tester
rolling stock engine inspector
aircraft engine tester

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

• Motor vehicle parts drawings: The various types of technical drawings used in relation to motor vehicles parts.
• 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.
• Mechanics of motor vehicles: The way energy forces interact and affect components in motor vehicles such as cars, buses, invalid carriages and other motorised vehicles. 
• 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.
• Electricity: Understand the principles of electricity and electrical power circuits, as well as the associated risks.
• Vehicle manufacturing process: Series of steps taken in order to produce a car or any other motor vehicle such as the design, the chassis and body assembly, the painting process, the interior assembly and the quality control.
• Mechanics: Theoretical and practical applications of the science studying the action of displacements and forces on physical bodies to the development of machinery and mechanical devices.

These skills are necessary for the role of motor vehicle assembler.

• Supervise motor vehicles manufacture: Inspect plants where motor vehicles are manufactured to ensure safety and quality control. Ensure that components are manufactured in compliance with safety and design specifications.
• Bolt engine parts: Securely bolt together engine components manually or using power tools.
• Assemble metal parts: Align and arrange steel and metal parts in order to assemble complete products; use the appropriate hand tools and gauges.
• Troubleshoot: Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.
• Monitor manufacturing quality standards: Monitor quality standards in manufacturing and finishing process.
• Assemble electrical components: Assemble switches, electrical controls, circuit boards and other electrical components by using hand and soldering equipment.
• Assemble electronic units: Connect various electronic and computer parts to form an electronic product or device.
• Align components: Align and lay out components in order to put them together correctly according to blueprints and technical plans.
• Use power tools: Operate power driven pumps. Use hand tools or power tools. Use vehicle repair tools or safety equipment.
• Read standard blueprints: Read and comprehend standard blueprints, machine, and process drawings.
• Ensure equipment availability: Ensure that the necessary equipment is provided, ready and available for use before start of procedures.
• Work in assembly line teams: Manufacture products on a moving assembly line. Work in a team where everyone has an assigned task.
• Drive motor vehicle prototypes: Drive experimental or prototypes of motor vehicles to acquire information on performance.
• Clean components during assembly: Clean components before fixing them to other compounds or units of components during the assembly process.
• Read engineering drawings: Read the technical drawings of a product made by the engineer in order to suggest improvements, make models of the product or operate it.
• Fasten components: Fasten components together according to blueprints and technical plans in order to create subassemblies or finished products.
• Keep records of work progress: Maintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.
• Use technical documentation: Understand and use technical documentation in the overall technical process.

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

• Quality assurance procedures: The procedures to inspect a product or system to ensure that it is according to specifications and requirements.
• Operation of different engines: Know the characteristics, maintenance requirements and operating procedures of various kinds of engines such as gas, diesel, electrical, and engines with steam propulsion plants.
• Engineering principles: The engineering elements like functionality, replicability, and costs in relation to the design and how they are applied in the completion of engineering projects.
• Engineering processes: The systematic approach to the development and maintenance of engineering systems.
• Electrical wiring plans: Pictorial representation of an electrical circuit. It shows the components of the circuit as simplified shapes, and the power and signal connections between the devices. It gives information about the relative position and arrangement of devices and terminals on the devices, to help in building or servicing the device. A wiring diagram is often used to troubleshoot problems and to make sure that all the connections have been made and that everything is present.
• Rivet types: The various types of rivets used in manufacturing, such as solid head rivets, blind rivets, drive rivets, semi-tubular rivets, oscar rivets, flush rivets, and others.
• Engine components: Know the different engine components, and their operation and maintenance. Understand when repairs and replacement should be undertaken.

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

• 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.
• Prepare pieces for joining: Prepare metal or other material workpieces for joining processes by cleaning the workpieces, checking their measurements with the technical plan and marking on the pieces where they’ll be joined.
• 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.
• Operate welding equipment: Use welding equipment to melt and join together pieces of metal or steel, wearing protective eyewear during the working process.
• Record test data: Record data which has been identified specifically during preceding tests in order to verify that outputs of the test produce specific results or to review the reaction of the subject under exceptional or unusual input.
• 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.
• Use automotive diagnostic equipment: Use diagnostic equipment to perform test on motor vehicles, components and systems to detect defects.
• Diagnose defective engines: Diagnose engine damage or malfunctions by inspecting mechanical equipment; utilise instruments such as chassis charts, pressure gauges, and motor analysers.
• Operate handheld riveting equipment: Operate various kinds of tools and equipment used in riveting processes, such a pin hammer and a rivet set, handheld squeezers, a hammer and bucking bar, a pneumatic hammer, a rivet gun, and others.
• Use testing equipment: Use equipment to test performance and operation of machinery.
• 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.
• Re-assemble engines: Re-assemble transport equipment engines after overhaul, inspection, repair, maintenace or cleaning according to blueprints and technical plans.
• Conduct performance tests: Conduct experimental, environmental and operational tests on models, prototypes or on the systems and equipment itself in order to test their strength and capabilities under normal and extreme conditions.
• Operate lifting equipment: Transport heavy objects using lifting equipment such as cranes, forklifts etc.
• Send faulty equipment back to assembly line: Send equipment that didn’t pass inspection back to the assembly line for re-assembly.
• Test motor vehicles under demanding conditions: Test the steering, braking and handling abilities of motor vehicles to see how they operate under demanding and extreme conditions such as on sloops, in winding bends and on ice.
• Write inspection reports: Write the results and conclusions of the inspection in a clear and intelligible way. Log the inspection’s processes such as contact, outcome, and steps taken.
• Disassemble engines: Disassemble internal combustion engines, generators, pumps, transmissions and other components of mechanical equipment.
• Tend riveting machine: Tend a metalworking machine designed to join metal pieces by automatically shooting mechanical fasteners, rivets, into them, monitor and operate it according to regulations.
• Set up automotive robot: Set up and programme an automotive robot working on machine processes and substituting or collaboratively supporting human labour, such as the six-axis automotive robot.
• Evaluate engine performance: Read and comprehend engineering manuals and publications; test engines in order to evaluate engine performance.
• Operate soldering equipment: Use soldering equipment to melt and join together pieces of metal or steel, such as a soldering gun, soldering torch, gas-powered iron, and others.
• Install low voltage wiring: Plan, deploy, troubleshoot and test low voltage wiring.

8211 – Mechanical machinery assemblers

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References

1. ESCO
2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
3. Motor vehicle assemblers, inspectors and testers – WorkBC
4. Featured image: Photo by Aaron Huber on Unsplash