Rolling stock assembler

Rolling stock assemblers use hand tools, power tools and other equipment such as lifting equipment or robots to construct, fit and install prefabricated parts to manufacture rolling stock subassemblies and body structures. They read and interpret blueprints. They operate control systems to determine functional performance of the assemblies and adjust accordingly.

Rolling stock 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 rolling stock 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 rolling stock assemblers work full time. Some assemblers work in shifts, which may require evening, weekend, and night work.

The following job titles also refer to rolling stock assembler:

railcar assembler
locomotive assembler
carriage assembler
wagon assembly worker
carriage assembly worker
railway vehicle assembly worker
multiple unit assembly worker
railcar assembly worker
railway vehicle assembler
rail vehicle builder
rolling stock builder
multiple unit assembler
multiple unit builder
wagon builder
wagon assembler
rail vehicle assembler
carriage builder
railway vehicle builder
rail vehicle assembly worker
locomotive assembly worker
locomotive builder
rolling stock assembly worker
railcar builder

A high school diploma is typically required to work as a rolling stock 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.

Rolling stock assembler is a Skill level 2 occupation.

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

aircraft de-icer installer
motor vehicle body assembler
motor vehicle parts assembler
electromechanical equipment assembler
vessel engine assembler

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

rolling stock engine tester
pneumatic engineering technician
rolling stock engine inspector
aircraft maintenance engineer
avionics inspector

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

• 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.
• 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.
• Mechanics of trains: Possess basic knowledge of the mechanics involved in trains, understand the technicalities and participate in discussions on related topics in order to solve problems related to the mechanics.
• 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 rolling stock assembler.

• Control compliance of railway vehicles regulations: Inspect rolling stock, components and systems to ensure compliance with standards and specifications.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Wear appropriate protective gear: Wear relevant and necessary protective gear, such as protective goggles or other eye protection, hard hats, safety gloves.
• 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.
• 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.
• Use technical documentation: Understand and use technical documentation in the overall technical process.
• Apply health and safety standards: Adhere to standards of hygiene and safety established by respective authorities.

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

• Locomotive brake applications: Understand the dynamics of locomotive brake applications.
• Engineering processes: The systematic approach to the development and maintenance of engineering systems.
• European Train Control System: The control and protection system that ensures trains run safely, a standard European system that allows crossing of borders in safety.
• 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.
• Metal thermal conductivity: The property of metals to conduct heat.
• Electricity: Understand the principles of electricity and electrical power circuits, as well as the associated risks.

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

• 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.
• Apply arc welding techniques: Apply and work with a variety of techniques in the process of arc welding, such as shielded metal arc welding, gas metal arc welding, submerged arc welding, flux-cored arc welding, and others.
• Apply preliminary treatment to workpieces: Apply preparatory treatment, through mechanical or chemical processes, to the workpiece preceding the main operation.
• 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.
• Manipulate metal: Manipulate the properties, shape and size of metal.
• Apply spot welding techniques: Apply and work with a variety of techniques in the process of welding metal workpieces under pressure exercised by electrodes, such as projection welding, radius style electrodes spot welding, eecentric electrodes spot welding, and others.
• Install electrical and electronic equipment: Install equipment which is dependent on electric currents or electromagnetic fields in order to work, or equipment to generate, transfer or measure such currents and fields. This equipment includes switchboards, electric motors, generators or direct current systems.
• Ensure maintenance of trains: Oversee train equipment maintenance and rail security.
• Couple bogies to rail vehicles: Connect the metal frame, to which the axes and wheels are attached, to the railway vehicle bodies by way of an articulated joint called the pivot.
• Use testing equipment: Use equipment to test performance and operation of machinery.
• Work in assembly line teams: Manufacture products on a moving assembly line. Work in a team where everyone has an assigned task.
• Install pneumatic systems: Install systems and components that use pneumatics to create mechanical movements such as air brakes, pneumatic cylinders, air compressors and other systems.
• Mark processed workpiece: Inspect and mark parts of the workpiece to indicate how they will fit into the finished product.
• Apply flux: Apply a chemical cleaning agent, such as ammonium chloride, rosin, hydrochloric acid, zinc chloride, borax, and others, that removes the oxidation from metals being joined during soldering, brazing, and welding processes.
• Lubricate rolling stock wheels: Use oil to lubricate the wheels of rolling stock.
• Cut metal products: Operate cutting and measuring instruments in order to cut/shape pieces of metal into given dimensions.
• 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.
• Liaise with engineers: Collaborate with engineers to ensure common understanding and discuss product design, development and improvement.
• Keep records of work progress: Maintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.
• 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.
• 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. Featured image: By Dmnt44 – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0