What is an Assembly Line Associate?

This position probably goes without saying, but as an assembler you're main priority is to put together products. For the most part, you'll be working in a manufacturing plant which tends to go hand-in-hand with long periods of standing or sitting. So prepare your back for that hardship.

A lot of assembler get away with just a high school diploma, but there are some employers within certain industries that require a higher education level. And if you get put on advanced assembly work, you'll probably have to go through additional training.

Assembly line workers fabricate components or assemble parts to create products and check the quality of produced goods in manufacturing units. They operate machines in factories and use a variety of tools to trim, weld, or screw parts together. They are responsible for keeping their workspace clean and complying with safety measures.

If you choose this line of work, you need to be skillful at using your hands and willing to endure repetitive and monotonous activities for long stretches of time. Physical and mental stamina will be necessary to maintain excellent attention to detail.

Assembly line workers carry out tasks as a team, each person responsible for a particular sequence of the work. However, they usually rotate the job, so you will get the chance to learn various parts of the assembly process, from handling raw material to construction, quality control, and preparation for shipping.

Manufacturing Team Members work in assembly lines at factories or high-volume production sites. Their duties may vary, depending on the industry they work in. Usually, they operate automated equipment and feed materials into machines, fabricate parts, or assemble products, and package and prepare items for shipping or storage. Or, perhaps, their only task is checking the quality of the products.

In any case, their responsibility is to set up and maintain tools and keep their working area clean, and to make sure their environment complies with safety measures.

Before starting the job, you will probably be trained in the specific area of production you apply for, and will take part in continuous process improvement. Having good manual skills really helps, and you will need to be a team player, of course. You will be expected to follow the rules and not shy away from enduring highly repetitive and sometimes physically demanding work.