Nature of Work
Workers in this field of electronics assemble, fabricate, inspect or test electronic and electromechanical assemblies, subassemblies, parts and components. They are employed in electronics manufacturing plants.
Nature of Work
Workers in this field of electronics assemble, fabricate, inspect or test electronic and electromechanical assemblies, subassemblies, parts and components. They are employed in electronics manufacturing plants.
Duties
Electronics assemblers solder and manually assemble resistors, diodes, transistors, capacitors, integrated circuits, wires and other electronic parts and components. They then attach these parts and components to designated locations on printed circuit boards. Work in this field is often detailed, and assemblers must assemble microcircuits requiring the use of microscopes, fine hand assembly, and adherence to clean room procedures.
Other work duties include installing, mounting, fastening, aligning and adjusting parts, components, wiring and harnesses to subassemblies and assemblies, and operating automatic and semi-automatic machines to position, solder and clean prescribed components on printed circuit boards.
Electronics fabricators operate and monitor automatic and semi-automatic process equipment to fabricate electronic components. They also solder, clean, seal and stamp components and perform other process operations as specified. Other duties include setting up process equipment and adhering to clean room procedures as required.
Electronics inspectors inspect electronic components and assemblies to ensure correct component selection and placement. They also inspect wiring and soldering quality, the proper insertion of pins, the location and diameter of plated holes, breaks in circuitry, line spacing in printed circuit boards, and other specified requirements while products are being assembled or fabricated.
Other duties for electronics inspectors include checking final assemblies for finish, labelling and packaging methods; checking mechanical dimensions; performing "go-no-go" electrical tests; and identifying and marking acceptable and defective assemblies. Electronics inspectors may be responsible for returning faulty assemblies to production for repair and for collecting, recording and summarizing inspection results.
Electronics testers operate various test equipment and tools to perform simple electrical and continuity testing of electronic components, parts and systems. They also set up and operate automatic testing equipment to locate circuit and wiring faults, shorts and component defects.
Other duties for electronics testers include comparing test results to specifications, setting parts or products aside for repair, and replacing components or parts as indicated by test equipment. Testers may also conduct life tests (burn-ins) on components, subassemblies and assemblies, and maintain test result reports.
Example Titles
- electronics assembler
- inspector, printed circuit board assembly
- tester, electronic components
- circuit board assembler
- component inserting machine operator
- capacitor assembler
- crystal final tester
- electronics inspector
- wafer fabrication operator
- wave soldering machine operator
- wiring and assembly operator
Training Paths
Most workers in this field are trained on the job by an employer. However, SIAST offers a number of Electronics/Electrical Technology programs. Many of these are also offered by the regional colleges.
Trends and Outlooks
The employment prospects for this occupation are: good
The number of electronics assemblers, fabricators, inspectors and testers in the province increased slightly in the last few years. In fact, the number of electronics assemblers, fabricators, inspectors and testers increased 20% between 2000 and 2005. This amounts to 55 new jobs in five years. Not surprisingly, half of these were in the manufacturing industry. Job seekers should not expect many job openings in these occupations in the near future. This is a young work force. In 2006, 65% of all workers in this group were younger than 45 years of age. This will result in few retirements and low demand for replacement workers in the next decade.
Electronics assemblers, fabricators, inspectors and testers are not well paid in Saskatchewan. In 2005, the average full-time income for these occupations was $25,500 per year, well below the provincial full-time average income for all occupations the same year ($42,300 per year). There is a fairly wide range of incomes in these occupations. In 2005, full-time electronics assemblers, fabricators, inspectors and testers earned as much as $38,000 and as little as $13,900.
According to Statistics Canada, 54% of all Saskatchewan electronics assemblers, fabricators, inspectors and testers in 2006 were female. That same year, 71% of all provincial employment for these occupations was based in or around Saskatoon.
Part-time employment is common among electronics assemblers, fabricators, inspectors and testers in the province. In 2006, 55% of all workers in these occupations were employed year round on a full-time basis. Self-employment is rare, however. Employment for these occupations is highly sensitive to overall economic conditions but rarely seasonal.
Professional Associations
Related Occupations
- Assemblers and Inspectors, Electrical Appliance, Apparatus and Equipment Manufacturing (9484)
- Electronic Service Technicians (Household and Business Equipment) (2242)
Example Titles
- adjuster, filament-winding machine
- aligner – electronic equipment manufacturing
- aluminizing equipment operator – electronic equipment manufacturing
- antenna-tuner inspector – electronic equipment manufacturing
- assembler – electronic equipment manufacturing
- assembler, avionics equipment
- assembler, electronic cash registers
- assembler, electronic equipment – electronic equipment manufacturing
- assembler, electronic keyboard
- assembler, office machines
- assembler, telecommunications equipment
- assembly inspector – electronic equipment manufacturing
- assembly tester – electronic equipment manufacturing
- automatic component-assembly-machine operator – electronic equipment manufacturing
- automatic wire-wrapping machine tender – electronic equipment manufacturing
- avionics assembler
- avionics equipment assembler
- backplane and frame wiring operator
- base-filling machine operator – electronic equipment manufacturing
- bench assembler – electronic equipment manufacturing
- bench worker – electronic equipment manufacturing
- board laboratory operator
- calibrator, wire wound resistors
- capacitor assembler
- capacitor inspector
- capacitor-treating tank operator
- cathode coater – electronic equipment manufacturing
- cathode-ray-tube-processing equipment setter
- chassis assembler – electronic equipment manufacturing
- chassis installer – electronic equipment manufacturing
- choke winder – electronic equipment manufacturing
- circuit board assembler
- coil assembler – electronic equipment manufacturing
- coil inspector – electronic equipment manufacturing
- coil-winding machine operator – electronic equipment manufacturing
- colour picture tube assembler
- communications equipment assembler
- compact disc player assembler
- compact disc player inspector and tester
- component inserting machine operator
- component inspector – electronic equipment manufacturing
- components assembler – electronic equipment manufacturing
- condenser winder – electronic equipment manufacturing
- cone assembler – electronic equipment manufacturing
- console assembler – electronic equipment manufacturing
- conveyor line worker – electronic equipment manufacturing
- crystal calibrator – electronic equipment manufacturing
- crystal final tester
- crystal final tester – electronic equipment manufacturing
- crystal finisher – electronic equipment manufacturing
- crystal frequency measurer – electronic equipment manufacturing
- crystal grower
- crystal inspector – electronic equipment manufacturing
- crystal lapper
- crystal unit assembler
- crystal-dicing saw operator
- die attacher – electronic equipment manufacturing
- diffusion furnace operator – electronic equipment manufacturing
- dip-soldering machine operator – electronic equipment manufacturing
- duplicating machine assembler
- electrical wire group assembler – electronic equipment manufacturing
- electron tube assembler
- electron tube inspector and tester
- electron tube stem assembly inspector
- electronic business machine assembler
- electronic cash register assembler
- electronic component assembler
- electronic component cleaner
- electronic component insertion colour coder
- electronic component tester – electronic equipment manufacturing
- electronic components tester
- electronic control assembler
- electronic control operator – electronic equipment manufacturing
- electronic equipment assembler – electronic equipment manufacturing
- electronic equipment inspector
- electronic equipment subassembler
- electronic instrument maker
- electronic keyboard assembler
- electronic office machines assembler
- electronic organ assembler
- electronic peripheral equipment assembler
- electronic products mounter – electronic equipment manufacturing
- electronic unit inspector – electronic equipment manufacturing
- electronics assembler
- electronics equipment assembler
- electronics inspector – electronic equipment manufacturing
- electronics manufacturing shop worker
- electronics tester
- electronics-manufacturing process inspector
- etcher and plater, quartz crystals – electronic equipment manufacturing
- etcher, printed circuit board (pcb)
- exhaust and sealing machine operator
- exhaust equipment setter – electronic equipment manufacturing
- fabricator, microelectronic circuits
- filament stem inspector – electronic equipment manufacturing
- filament tester – electronic equipment manufacturing
- filter assembler – electronic equipment manufacturing
- final-assembly tester – electronic equipment manufacturing
- finished product inspector – electronic equipment manufacturing
- fluorescent screen former
- frequency measurer, crystals – electronic equipment manufacturing
- funnel coater – electronic equipment manufacturing
- gauger, semiconductor material – electronic equipment manufacturing
- general assembler and light machine operator – electronic equipment manufacturing
- geophysical instrument assembler – electronic equipment manufacturing
- grid gauger – electronic equipment manufacturing
- grid inspector – electronic equipment manufacturing
- grid operator – electronic equipment manufacturing
- gun assembler, television pictures tubes
- harness and cable fabricator – electronic equipment manufacturing
- hearing aid inspector – electronic equipment manufacturing
- hybrid circuit assembler – electronic equipment manufacturing
- hybrid inspector – electronic equipment manufacturing
- impregnator and dryer – electronic equipment manufacturing
- in-circuit test operator
- inspector – electronic equipment manufacturing
- inspector – printed circuit board fabrication
- inspector and tester, electron tube
- inspector, components – electronic equipment manufacturing
- inspector, electron tube stem assemblies
- inspector, printed circuit board (pcb) assembly
- installer – electronic equipment manufacturing
- integrated circuit assembler
- lab technician, wafer fabrication – electronic equipment manufacturing
- laminator, television picture tubes
- laser assembler – electronic equipment manufacturing
- laser-trimmer operator – electronic equipment manufacturing
- machine operator – electronic equipment manufacturing
- magnetometer assembler – electronic equipment manufacturing
- manufacturing operator – electronic equipment manufacturing
- mica capacitor assembler
- microcircuit assembler
- microelectronic circuit fabricator
- mobile transceiver inspector – electronic equipment manufacturing
- mount operator – electronic equipment manufacturing
- mounter – electronic equipment manufacturing
- nautical instrument maker – electronic equipment manufacturing
- navigation aid inspector – electronic equipment manufacturing
- nucleonics instrument assembler
- pacemaker assembler – electronic equipment manufacturing
- parts tester – electronic equipment manufacturing
- pcb (printed circuit board) assembler
- pcb (printed circuit board) assembly inspector
- pcb (printed circuit board) assembly machine operator – electronic equipment manufacturing
- pcb (printed circuit board) etcher
- pcb (printed circuit board) fabrication inspector
- pcb (printed circuit board) fabrication machine operator
- pcb (printed circuit board) in-circuit machine -and repairing-machine operator
- pcb (printed circuit board) inspector
- pcb (printed circuit board) inspector and tester – electronic equipment manufacturing
- photoresist printer – electronic equipment manufacturing
- pick and place machine operator – electronic equipment manufacturing
- picture tube assembler
- picture tube screen aluminizer
- picture tube tester – electronic equipment manufacturing
- plater, vacuum evaporation process – electronic equipment manufacturing
- precision instrument assembler – electronic equipment manufacturing
- printed circuit board (pcb) assembler
- printed circuit board (pcb) assembly inspector
- printed circuit board (pcb) assembly machine operator
- printed circuit board (pcb) assembly machine operator – electronic equipment manufacturing
- printed circuit board (pcb) etcher
- printed circuit board (pcb) fabrication inspector
- printed circuit board (pcb) fabrication machine operator
- printed circuit board (pcb) in-circuit machine -and repairing-machine operator
- printed circuit board (pcb) in-circuit test machine and repair operator
- printed circuit board (pcb) inspector
- printed circuit board (pcb) inspector and tester – electronic equipment manufacturing
- process inspector – electronic equipment manufacturing
- process technician – electronic equipment manufacturing
- process tester – electronic equipment manufacturing
- production operator – electronic equipment manufacturing
- production tester – electronic equipment manufacturing
- quartz crystal etcher and plater – electronic equipment manufacturing
- radar-indicator inspector – electronic equipment manufacturing
- radar-receiver assembler
- radiation-detector assembler
- radio assembler and installer
- resistor assembler – electronic equipment manufacturing
- resistor machine feeder
- resistor-processing equipment operator
- rim bander, television picture tube
- salvage operator – electronic equipment manufacturing
- screen aluminizer, picture tube assemblies
- semiconductor assembler
- semiconductor calibrator
- semiconductor material gauger – electronic equipment manufacturing
- semiconductor mounter
- setter, exhaust equipment – electronic equipment manufacturing
- silicon wafer fabricator
- silicon wafer grower
- speaker assembler
- subassembler, electronic equipment
- surface mount assembler
- surface mount assembler – electronic equipment manufacturing
- tape cartridge and cassette assembler
- tape cartridge and cassette inspector
- telephone assembler
- television assembler
- television assembly chief inspector
- television picture tube laminator
- television picture tube tester – electronic equipment manufacturing
- television receiver inspector and tester – electronic equipment manufacturing
- television tube assembler
- tension meter assembler – electronic equipment manufacturing
- test and trim operator – electronic equipment manufacturing
- tester, electronic components
- testing machine operator – electronic equipment manufacturing
- through-hole assembler
- through-hole assembler – electronic equipment manufacturing
- transistor assembler
- tube assembler – electronic equipment manufacturing
- tube tester
- tv set inspector and tester – electronic equipment manufacturing
- type-bar-and-segment assembler
- typewriter aligner
- typewriter inspector, parts and assemblies
- typewriter parts salvager
- utility operator – electronic equipment manufacturing
- vacuum evaporation process plater – electronic equipment manufacturing
- variable capacitor tester
- variable resistor assembler
- wafer fabrication operator
- wafer fabrication operator – electronic equipment manufacturing
- wafer technician – electronic equipment manufacturing
- wave soldering machine operator
- wave soldering machine operator – electronic equipment manufacturing
- wire and harness assembler
- wire bonder – electronic equipment manufacturing
- wire soldering operator
- wire wound resistor calibrator
- wire wound resistor calibrator – electronic equipment manufacturing
- wire wound resistor inspector – electronic equipment manufacturing
- wire-cutting machine operator – electronic equipment manufacturing
- wire-wrapping machine operator – electronic equipment manufacturing
- wiring and assembly operator
- wiring and soldering operator – electronic equipment manufacturing
Main Industries of Employment
Average Earnings
Self Employment
Percentage of Workers Employed Full-Time
Where They Work
Aboriginal Identification
