Several different kinds of products are made by fabricators and assemblers with the utilization of a variety of manufactured parts of subassemblies. Workers participate in producing parts for computers, aircrafts, electrical and electronic systems, and automobile engines.
Job Description
Tasks for fabricators or assemblers vary from simple to complicated, necessitating a wide range of skills and knowledge. Experienced assemblers assembling complex machines, start by reading detailed blueprints or schematics that instruct them on how to put together the machine. After discovering how the parts should connect, they use power or hand tools to cut, shim, and make other modifications to fit pieces together and align correctly. Once the components are correctly aligned, they then connect them with screws and bolts or by soldering or welding parts together.
Team assemblers might still be on an assembly line, but they carry out a multitude of tasks instead of doing only a single task. The team might also discuss work assignments and how multiple tasks are done. Team assemblers’ flexibility assists companies to cover absent workers, enhances productivity, and increases companies’ skill to answer shifts in demand by changing from one product line to another. For instance, if demand for a product decreases, companies might decide to reduce the amount of workers making it, asking the left over employees to perform more stages of the assembly process.
Work by assemblers is either accomplished by a subassembly line or the final assembly line where an assortment of finished parts or goods are made. For example, electronic and electrical equipment assemblers put together radio or test equipment, missile control systems, machine-tool numerical controls, computers, radar/sonar, and prototypes of these or other goods. Electromechanical equipment assemblers check and make products such as appliances, ejection-seat mechanisms, or dynamometers. Finishers, coil winders, and tapers wrap the wire coil that is used in several different components like resistors, generators, transformers, and electric motors. Machine and engine assemblers construct of rebuild turbines and engines as well as construction, office, rolling mill, woodworking, agriculture, oilfield, paper, textile, woodmaking, food-wrapping, and paper equipment. Aircraft rigging, structure, surface, and system assemblers put together and perform installations of small parts in missiles, airplanes, or space vehicles, such as landing gear. Structural metal fitters and fabricators have to cut out, place, and put together structural metal pieces, adhering to precise instructions before welding or riveting.
Assembly and Fabrication Training and Education Requirements
Aspiring fabricators and assemblers usually being as novices. It is vital that one works swiftly with precision as they follow specific directions in order to get a job. Several employers like hiring applicants that at least are high school graduates. Acute reading ability is also necessary to comprehend assembly manuals and directions, but plenty of writings also use diagrams and sketches.
There are certain assembly positions that call for more training. For example, a number of potential employees in electronic or electrical assembly have to have formal training through military training or technical schools. Applicants only have to have informal job training which might include class instruction sponsored by the employee for most other jobs.
As experience is gained, workers have the chance to be promoted to jobs that require more ability and skill. Experienced assemblers might be promoted to repairer if they understand the producing of the product and have adequately learned how to put the product together. Repairers repair products that are regarded as defective by inspection workers. It’s also possible for assembly workers to move on to become quality control officers or supervisors. Other employees might be promoted to the research and development division, aiding product engineers and designers in the development and design process as they labor to test new products and create prototypes. Workers might start training to become a machinist or any other area of skill. Workers with a solid knowledge in math, computers, and science might be trained in programming or to become an operator of sophisticated automatic fabrication machinery.
Assembly and Fabrication Salary and Wages
Wages for fabricators and assemblers are dependent of factors such as location, skill level, industry, complexity of operated equipment, and level of education. Team assemblers made a median hourly earning of $11.42 in 2004. Electronic and electric assemblers made a median of $11.68 per hour, engine and other machine assemblers made a median of $16.73 an hour, $17.79 for aircraft assemblers, $12.71 was earned by electromechanical equipment assemblers, and fiberglass fabricators and laminators earned a median of $12.18 and hour.*
*According to the BLS, http://www.bls.gov/oco/
Assembly and Fabrication Certifications
Certifications are not routine for several types of assemblers and fabricators. Several employers that hire electronic and electrical assembly workers, mainly those in the defense and aerospace industries, call for certifications in soldering, such as those offered by the IPC.
Assembly and Fabrication Professional Associations
The Fabricators and Manufacturers Association, International (FMA) is a professional association with over 2,00 company and individual members working with the goat of improving the metal fabrication and forming industry. Formed in 1970, FMA gathers manufacturers and fabricators through technology boards, networking events, educational programs, and FABTECH International & AWS Welding Show.
