Occupation · SOC 51-2099
Assemblers and Fabricators, All Other
All assemblers and fabricators not listed separately.
Median wage
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Projected growth
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Annual openings
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per year
Employed (US)
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Job Zone —
Core skills
Operations MonitoringMonitoringOperation and ControlCritical ThinkingActive ListeningQuality Control AnalysisSpeakingReading Comprehension
Knowledge areas
Production and ProcessingMechanicalEnglish LanguageMathematicsEducation and Training
Technology & tools
Internet browser softwareComputer aided design CAD softwareEnterprise application integration softwareTime accounting softwareData base user interface and query software
Representative tasks
Read and interpret assembly blueprints or specifications manuals, and plan assembly or building operations.Perform quality checks on products and parts.Operate or tend wire-coiling machines to wind wire coils used in electrical components such as resistors and transformers, and in electrical equipment and instruments such as bobbins and generators.Release air bubbles and smooth seams, using rollers.Assemble and install components of timepieces to complete mechanisms, using watchmakers' tools and loupes.Read and interpret schematic drawings, diagrams, blueprints, specifications, work orders, or reports to determine materials requirements or assembly instructions.Observe operation of timepiece parts and subassemblies to determine accuracy of movement, and to diagnose causes of defects.Spray chopped fiberglass, resins, and catalysts onto prepared molds or dies using pneumatic spray guns with chopper attachments.Inspect, operate, and test completed products to verify functioning, machine capabilities, or conformance to customer specifications.Verify conformance of workpieces to specifications, using squares, rulers, and measuring tapes.Assemble electrical or electronic systems or support structures and install components, units, subassemblies, wiring, or assembly casings, using rivets, bolts, soldering or micro-welding equipment.Assemble parts, fittings, or subassemblies on aircraft, using layout tools, hand tools, power tools, or fasteners, such as bolts, screws, rivets, or clamps.Attach, alter, and trim materials such as wire, insulation, and coils, using hand tools.Mix catalysts into resins, and saturate cloth and mats with mixtures, using brushes.Review work orders and blueprints to ensure work is performed according to specifications.Position or align components for assembly, manually or using hoists.Study engineering drawings and blueprints to determine materials requirements and task sequences.Cut, strip, and bend wire leads at ends of coils, using pliers and wire scrapers.Read blueprints, illustrations, or specifications to determine layouts, sequences of operations, or identities or relationships of parts.Review work orders and specifications to determine materials needed and types of parts to be processed.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Safety and sanitation regulations — follow under direct supervisor guidance on the assembly floor.Attendance and hours worked — record accurately using time accounting software with trainer oversight.Finished components and raw materials — inspect visually for obvious defects under close supervision on the production line.Work orders and production schedules — read and interpret with guidance to identify daily assembly tasks.Hand tools and basic assembly instruments — select and use correctly under direction in a light manufacturing environment.Routine assembly sequences — execute step-by-step following written protocols in a structured fabrication setting.Near-vision inspection tasks — perform on small parts and fasteners to verify fit and finish under supervision.Active listening skills — apply when receiving verbal instructions from leads to complete assigned assembly tasks.Quality defects and irregularities — recognize and flag for review using standard defect checklists on the shop floor.Basic spreadsheet and database tools — enter production data under guidance to support recordkeeping requirements.
developing
Safety regulations and sanitation standards — enforce consistently across own workstation and for nearby team members in a manufacturing facility.Employee attendance logs and hour records — maintain accurately in time accounting software with minimal supervisory review.Mechanical components and subassemblies — inspect against specification tolerances and document findings on inspection reports.Production charts and work orders — analyze independently to sequence daily fabrication tasks and adjust workflow priorities.Assembly equipment and machinery — monitor during routine operations to detect anomalies and prevent downtime.Arm-hand steadiness and control precision — apply when assembling close-tolerance parts in mid-volume production runs.Quality control analysis — perform on sampled outputs using established acceptance criteria and record results in a database.Spoken communication — deliver clear shift handoff summaries and task updates to team members and floor supervisors.CAD drawings and technical schematics — read and reference during fabrication to verify dimensional conformance.Problem sensitivity — identify early signs of process deviation and escalate findings through proper reporting channels.
proficient
Safety and sanitation protocols — enforce autonomously across multiple workstations and investigate near-miss incidents in a production environment.Complex attendance and labor records — manage and reconcile for a work cell using enterprise integration software to ensure payroll accuracy.Defective materials and malfunctioning equipment — identify root causes through systematic inspection and recommend corrective actions.Multi-shift production schedules and performance reports — analyze to optimize throughput and resource allocation across fabrication lines.Operations monitoring — oversee continuous equipment performance throughout a full production shift and adjust parameters to maintain quality targets.Critical thinking — evaluate process anomalies, weigh alternative solutions, and implement changes that minimize waste in a high-mix fabrication setting.Quality control standards — apply statistical sampling methods and interpret control charts to validate product conformance at line level.Cross-functional communication — convey technical findings and process recommendations clearly to engineering, quality, and operations stakeholders.Finger dexterity and manual precision — demonstrate in complex subassembly tasks requiring fine motor control under production-rate conditions.CAD and enterprise software — use proficiently to retrieve specifications, log non-conformances, and generate traceability documentation.
advanced
Facility-wide safety and sanitation programs — design, implement, and audit to ensure regulatory compliance across all production departments.Workforce attendance and labor data systems — lead the selection and configuration of time accounting and enterprise software to improve reporting accuracy.Inspection and defect-reduction strategy — establish acceptance criteria, measurement systems, and corrective action frameworks for the entire fabrication operation.Production planning and scheduling systems — direct the development of data-driven schedules that align capacity, inventory, and customer delivery commitments.Operations monitoring standards — set key performance indicators and monitoring protocols adopted organization-wide for assembly and fabrication lines.Continuous improvement culture — champion root-cause analysis methodologies and mentor production staff in critical thinking and problem-solving techniques.Quality management framework — lead implementation of quality control systems, standards training, and supplier qualification programs across the business unit.Organizational communication — represent the production function in executive briefings, customer audits, and cross-site process standardization initiatives.Technology roadmap — evaluate and recommend adoption of CAD, automation, and enterprise integration tools to advance manufacturing capability.Talent development — design competency-based training curricula and apprenticeship pathways that build skilled assemblers and fabricators at every level.
Also known as
467 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
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