Engineering Assembler

Engineering assemblers work as part of a team making a wide range of products such as cars, household goods, furniture, toys and gadgets.

The Work

You could be:

• following a diagram or set of instructions and adding parts (components) to a product in the right order


• fitting separate parts of the product together by hand or with tools


• using pliers, spanners and electric screwdrivers or specialist tools and equipment


• wiring and soldering components or gluing, bolting or screwing them together


• assembling the whole product in some cases, but only certain parts of the product in other cases


• doing your part of the assembly process then passing it to the next worker or putting it back on to the conveyor belt


• carrying out a range of simple repetitive tasks in some types of product, or assembling the entire product yourself.

Conditions

• Working conditions can vary a lot depending on the type of product you are making.


• Factories can be clean and quiet or dusty, dirty and noisy.


• You may have to sit at a work bench, or stand in the same position all day.


• You may have to do heavy lifting.


• You might have early morning starts and you might have to work shifts.


• You will usually have to wear overalls and, in some industries, a head covering and protective glasses, boots and gloves.

Getting In

• You may not require formal qualifications, but some employers may ask for Standard grades, particularly in English, maths and science or technological subjects.


• You may also have to sit an entrance test to see how good you are at working with your hands.


• Your colour vision may be tested.

What Does It Take?

You need to have:

• patience


• good hand skills
• an eye for detail.

• concentrate well
• work neatly and accurately
• follow instructions and diagrams.

Training

• You will normally train on-the-job through an employer’s training scheme, Skillseekers or a Modern Apprenticeship.


• Under this training, you may be able to work towards Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs) at Levels 1 and 2 in a subject such as Performing Engineering Operations.

Getting On

• With experience, you may be able to get promotion to posts such as supervisor, chargehand or inspector.


• You may also be able to move to other jobs in manufacturing such as quality control.


• You might be able to go on to train as an engineering craft worker.

Pay

The figures below are only a guide, as actual pay rates may vary, depending on:

• where you work
• the size of the company or organisation you work for
• the demand for the job.

More Information

Addresses

The following organisation(s) may be able to provide further information.