Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters
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Job Outlook
Overall employment of assemblers and fabricators is projected to decline 6 percent from 2022 to 2032.
Despite declining employment, about 188,600 openings for assemblers and fabricators are projected each year, on average, over the decade. All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Education Details
Summary of What they do:
Perform precision assembling or adjusting, within narrow tolerances, of timing devices such as digital clocks or timing devices with electrical or electronic components.
What Assemblers and Fabricators Do
Assemblers and fabricators build finished products and the parts that go into them. They use handtools and machines to make vehicles, toys, electronic devices, and more.
Duties
Assemblers and fabricators typically do the following:
- Read and understand schematics and blueprints
- Position or align components and parts either manually or with hoists
- Use handtools or machines to assemble parts
- Conduct quality control checks
- Clean and maintain work area and equipment, including tools
Assemblers and fabricators need a range of knowledge and skills. For example, assemblers putting together complex machines must be able to read detailed schematics. After determining how parts should connect, they use handtools or power tools to trim, cut, and make other adjustments to fit components together. When the parts are properly aligned, they connect them with bolts and screws, or they weld or solder pieces together.
Assemblers look for faulty components and mistakes throughout the assembly process. Such assessments help to ensure quality by allowing assemblers to fix problems before defective products are made.
Modern manufacturing systems use robots, computers, and other technologies. These systems use teams of workers to produce entire products or components.
Assemblers and fabricators may also be involved in product development. Designers and engineers may consult manufacturing workers during the design stage to improve product reliability and manufacturing efficiency. Some experienced assemblers work with designers and engineers to build prototypes or test products.
Although most assemblers and fabricators are classified as team assemblers, others specialize in producing one type of product or in doing the same or similar tasks throughout the manufacturing process.
The following are examples of types of assemblers and fabricators:
Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers fit, fasten, and install parts of airplanes, missiles, or space vehicles. These parts include the wings, landing gear, and heating and ventilating systems.
Coil winders, tapers, and finishers roll wire curs of electrical components used in electric and electronic products, including resistors, transformers, and electric motors. Using handtools, these workers also attach and trim coils or insulation.
Electrical and electronic equipment assemblers build products such as computers, electric motors, and sensing equipment. Unlike in industries with automated systems, much of the small-scale production of electronic devices for aircraft, military systems, and medical equipment must be done by hand. These workers use devices such as soldering irons.
Electromechanical equipment assemblers make and modify mechanical devices that run on electricity, such as household appliances, computer tomography scanners, and vending machines. These workers use tools such as rulers, rivet guns, and soldering irons.
Engine and machine assemblers construct and rebuild motors, turbines, and machines used in automobiles, construction and mining equipment, and power generators.
Fiberglass laminators and fabricators overlay fiberglass onto molds, forming protective surfaces for boat decks and hulls, golf cart bodies, and other products.
Structural metal fabricators and fitters cut, align, and fit together structural metal parts and may help weld or rivet the parts together.
Team assemblers rotate through different tasks on an assembly line, rather than specializing in a single task. Team members may decide how work is assigned and tasks are completed.
Timing device assemblers, adjusters, and calibrators manufacture or modify instruments that require precise measurement of time, such as clocks, watches, and chronometers.
Important Qualities
Color vision. Assemblers and fabricators who make electrical and electronic products must distinguish different colors, because the wires they often work with are color coded.
Dexterity. Assemblers and fabricators should have a steady hand and good hand–eye coordination, as they must grasp, manipulate, and assemble parts and components that are often very small.
Mechanical skills. Assemblers and fabricators must have a working knowledge of basic machinery to use programmable motion-control devices, computers, and robots on the factory floor.
Physical stamina. Assemblers and fabricators must be able to stand for long periods and do repetitive tasks. Some assemblers, such as those in the aerospace industry, must frequently bend or climb ladders when assembling parts.
Physical strength. Assemblers and fabricators must be able to lift heavy components or pieces of machinery.
Technical skills. Assemblers and fabricators must understand technical manuals, blueprints, and schematics for manufacturing a range of products and machines.
Tasks On The Job
- Adjust sizes or positioning of timepiece parts to achieve specified fit or function, using calipers, fixtures, and loupes.
- Assemble and install components of timepieces to complete mechanisms, using watchmakers' tools and loupes.
- Bend inner coils of springs away from or toward collets, using tweezers, to locate centers of collets in centers of springs, and to correct errors resulting from faulty colleting of coils.
- Bend parts, such as hairsprings, pallets, barrel covers, and bridges, to correct deficiencies in truing or endshake, using tweezers.
- Change timing weights on balance wheels to correct deficient timing.
- Clean and lubricate timepiece parts and assemblies, using solvents, buff sticks, and oil.
- Disassemble timepieces such as watches, clocks, and chronometers so that repairs can be made.
- Estimate spaces between collets and first inner coils to determine if spaces are within acceptable limits.
- Examine and adjust hairspring assemblies to ensure horizontal and circular alignment of hairsprings, using calipers, loupes, and watchmakers' tools.
- Examine components of timepieces such as watches, clocks, or chronometers for defects, using loupes or microscopes.
- Mount hairsprings and balance wheel assemblies between jaws of truing calipers.
- Observe operation of timepiece parts and subassemblies to determine accuracy of movement, and to diagnose causes of defects.
- Replace specified parts to repair malfunctioning timepieces, using watchmakers' tools, loupes, and holding fixtures.
- Review blueprints, sketches, or work orders to gather information about tasks to be completed.
- Test operation and fit of timepiece parts and subassemblies, using electronic testing equipment, tweezers, watchmakers' tools, and loupes.
- Tighten or replace loose jewels, using watchmakers' tools.
- Turn wheels of calipers and examine springs, using loupes, to determine if center coils appear as perfect circles.
PERSONALITY
| Your Assessment Results |
CAREER CHARACTERISTICS
Importance
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88% | Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks. | |
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80% | Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical. | |
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78% | Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations. | |
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76% | Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done. | |
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74% | Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace. | |
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71% | Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude. | |
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66% | Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles. | |
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62% | Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks. | |
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61% | Self-Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations. | |
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59% | Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges. | |
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56% | Innovation - Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems. | |
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54% | Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems. | |
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53% | Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations. | |
| Your Assessment Results |
IMPORTANT STRENGTHS
Importance
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100% | Realistic - Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services. | |
APTITUDES
| Your Assessment Results |
ABILITIES | SKILLS
Importance
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75% | Finger Dexterity - The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects. | |
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72% | Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position. | |
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63% | Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer). | |
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60% | Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem. | |
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60% | Manual Dexterity - The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects. | |
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53% | Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. | |
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53% | Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations). | |
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53% | Visualization - The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged. | |
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53% | Control Precision - The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions. | |
| Your Assessment Results |
TASKS | ACTIVITIES
Importance
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77% | Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment - Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles. | |
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72% | Handling and Moving Objects - Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things. | |
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68% | Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects. | |
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68% | Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. | |
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65% | Controlling Machines and Processes - Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles). | |
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62% | Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. | |
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59% | Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. | |
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59% | Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. | |
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58% | Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions. | |
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55% | Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job. | |
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53% | Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work. | |
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53% | Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts. | |
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52% | Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people. | |
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51% | Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems. | |
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51% | Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time. | |
| Your Assessment Results |
CONTEXT | ATTRIBUTES
Importance
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91% | Face-to-Face Discussions - How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job? | |
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83% | Freedom to Make Decisions - How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer? | |
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80% | Contact With Others - How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it? | |
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77% | Structured versus Unstructured Work - To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals? | |
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76% | Indoors, Environmentally Controlled - How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions? | |
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72% | Frequency of Decision Making - How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization? | |
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71% | Telephone - How often do you have telephone conversations in this job? | |
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66% | Work With Work Group or Team - How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job? | |
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65% | Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job? | |
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64% | Spend Time Sitting - How much does this job require sitting? | |
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60% | Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results - What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer? | |
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52% | Electronic Mail - How often do you use electronic mail in this job? | |
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52% | Coordinate or Lead Others - How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job? | |
Work Environment
Assemblers and fabricators held about 2.0 million jobs in 2022. Employment in the detailed occupations that make up assemblers and fabricators was distributed as follows:
| Miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators | 1,500,400 |
| Electrical, electronic, and electromechanical assemblers, except coil winders, tapers, and finishers | 282,900 |
| Structural metal fabricators and fitters | 59,600 |
| Engine and other machine assemblers | 50,900 |
| Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers | 33,900 |
| Fiberglass laminators and fabricators | 22,600 |
| Coil winders, tapers, and finishers | 11,100 |
| Timing device assemblers and adjusters | 400 |
The largest employers of assemblers and fabricators were as follows:
| Transportation equipment manufacturing | 25% |
| Temporary help services | 12 |
| Machinery manufacturing | 9 |
| Computer and electronic product manufacturing | 8 |
| Fabricated metal product manufacturing | 8 |
Most assemblers and fabricators work in manufacturing plants, and working conditions vary by plant and by industry. Many physically difficult tasks, such as tightening massive bolts or moving heavy parts into position, have been automated or made easier through the use of power tools. Assembly work, however, may still involve long periods of standing, sitting, or working on ladders.
Injuries and Illnesses
Some assemblers come into contact with potentially dangerous chemicals or fumes, but ventilation systems usually minimize any harmful effects. Other assemblers come into contact with oil and grease, and their work areas may be noisy. Fiberglass laminators and fabricators are exposed to fiberglass, which may irritate the skin; these workers must wear protective gear, such as gloves and long sleeves, and must use respirators for safety.
Work Schedules
Most assemblers and fabricators work full time. Some assemblers and fabricators work in shifts, which may require evening, weekend, and night work.
Getting Started
How to Become an Assembler or Fabricator
The education and qualifications typically needed to enter these occupations vary by industry and employer. Although a high school diploma is enough for most jobs, experience and training are needed for advanced assembly work.
Education
Assemblers and fabricators typically need a high school diploma or equivalent to enter the occupation.
Training
Workers typically receive several months of on-the-job training, sometimes including employer-sponsored technical instruction.
Skilled assemblers and fabricators may need special training or an associate’s degree, depending on the employer. For example, workers in electrical, electronic, and aircraft and motor vehicle products manufacturing typically need postsecondary education. Apprenticeship programs are also available.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
The Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International (FMA) offers certificates and training programs in fabrication, coil processing, and other related topics. Although not required, these credentials demonstrate competence and professionalism and may help a candidate advance in the occupation.
In addition, many employers, especially those in the aerospace and defense industries, require electrical and electronic assembly workers to have certifications in soldering. The Association Connecting Electronics Industries, also known as IPC, offers a number of certification programs related to electronic assembly and soldering.
Advancement
Experienced assemblers and fabricators may advance to become a supervisor or manager.
Contacts for More Information
For more information about assemblers and fabricators, including certification, training, and professional development, visit
Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International
For information about careers in manufacturing, visit
For information about certifications in electronics soldering, visit:
Association Connecting Electronics Industries
Similar Occupations
This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of assemblers and fabricators.
| Occupation | Job Duties | Entry-Level Education | Median Annual Pay, May 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Industrial Machinery Mechanics, Machinery Maintenance Workers, and Millwrights |
Industrial machinery mechanics, machinery maintenance workers, and millwrights install, maintain, and repair factory equipment and other industrial machinery. |
High school diploma or equivalent | $59,470 |
|
Metal and Plastic Machine Workers |
Metal and plastic machine workers set up and operate equipment that cuts, shapes, and forms metal and plastic materials or pieces. |
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|
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers |
Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers use hand-held or remotely controlled equipment to join, repair, or cut metal parts and products. |
High school diploma or equivalent | $47,540 |
|
Sheet Metal Workers |
Sheet metal workers fabricate or install products that are made from thin metal sheets. |
High school diploma or equivalent | $55,350 |
|
Boilermakers |
Boilermakers assemble, install, maintain, and repair boilers, closed vats, and other large vessels or containers that hold liquids and gases. |
High school diploma or equivalent | $66,920 |
|
Ironworkers |
Ironworkers install structural and reinforcing iron and steel to form and support buildings, bridges, and roads. |
High school diploma or equivalent | $58,330 |