We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Manufacturing

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Are the Different Types of Assembly Workstations?

By Amy Rodriguez
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 6,977
Share

Assembly workstations vary widely based on the product's internal and external construction, including printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing, mechanical construction, and outside housing production. Workstations can either be automated with robotics or designed as a manual worker area for delicate items. Employees take part in all types of assembly workstations, regardless of the amount of automation implemented.

Printed circuit boards (PCBs) fill the majority of current production items, from stovetop ovens to cell phones. Constructing a PCB requires a number of different assembly workstations oriented in step order for the best production rate. At one workstation, the bare PCB surface is created with specialized screens and solder paste, while at the next workstation the individual electronic components are placed on the board. Reflow ovens are used to fuse the components to the circuitry within the PCB. One or more assembly workstations will focus on testing the final PCBs for a quality assurance step.

Mechanical construction, such as placing a gear on a rod, is normally performed using a number of different assembly workstations. Common workstations in mechanical assembly lines include lathes and drills, as well as welding and riveting machines and areas. The volatile action of each mechanical workstation requires the areas to be enclosed or spaced far from other work zones to prevent injuries to workers and nearby observers.

Many modern exterior housings are formed with plastic extrusion processes. Extrusion machine workstations are operated by trained employees to ensure that the correct shape and quantity of plastic are extruded from the device. This workstation may also include a rack area to cool the plastic housings before they move to the next production step.

Most automated production lines still need employee supervision for successful product creation. Workers will observe and adjust portions of the robotic automation at their individual assembly workstations; each manufacturing step needs to occur according to strict regulations before the product can proceed to the next workstation. Any product defects that occur must be pinpointed and attributed to a particular workstation. Supervisors can troubleshoot and solve the issue at the specific workstation to prevent further flaws.

Manual workstations, such as one that might be used to create a doll by hand, are not as common as automated workstations since costs would remain high for that particular production line. These assembly workstations are normally filled with small hand tools, and other instruments, for the employee to use during production. Although they are slower to produce, handmade items tend to sell for premium prices, based on their overall retail value.

Share
About Mechanics is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.aboutmechanics.com/what-are-the-different-types-of-assembly-workstations.htm
Copy this link
About Mechanics, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

About Mechanics, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.