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Electronics Assemblers, Fabricators, Inspectors and Testers (9483)

Occupation related to information and communications technology

Occupation targeted under the Workplace Apprenticeship Program

Please note that detailed information for each of the occupations under the Workplace Apprenticeship Program is only available in French.

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Nature of work

Electronics assemblers and fabricators assemble and fabricate electronic equipment, parts and components. Electronics inspectors and testers inspect and test electronic and electromechanical assemblies, subassemblies, parts and components to ensure conformance to prescribed standards. They are employed in electronics manufacturing plants.

Fields of interest

  • Making or building things, constructing, doing repairs, and performing installations
  • Working with computers, information technology, and communications
  • Working with your hands

Main duties

  • Electronics assemblers perform some or all of the following duties:
  • - Solder and manually assemble various electronic components such as resistors, diodes, transistors, capacitors, integrated circuits, switches, wires and other electronic parts to designated locations on printed circuit boards
  • - Assemble microcircuits requiring fine hand assembly, the use of microscopes and adherence to cleanroom procedures
  • - Install, mount, fasten, align and adjust parts, components, wiring and harnesses to subassemblies and assemblies using hand and small power tools
  • - Operate automatic and semi-automatic machines to position, solder and clean prescribed components on printed circuit boards
  • - May replace defective components and repair and overhaul older devices.
  • Electronics fabricators perform some or all of the following duties:
  • - Operate and monitor process equipment including automatic and semi-automatic machines to fabricate electronic components, solder, clean, seal and stamp components and perform other process operations as specified
  • - Set up process equipment and adhere to cleanroom procedures as required.
  • Electronics inspectors perform some or all of the following duties:
  • - Inspect electronic components and assemblies to ensure correct component selection and placement, wiring and soldering quality, proper pin insertions, location and diameter of plated holes, breaks in circuitry and line spacing in printed circuit board and other specified requirements while products are being assembled or fabricated
  • - Check final assembly for finish, labelling and packaging methods
  • - Check mechanical dimensions and perform "go-no-go" electrical tests
  • - Identify and mark acceptable and defective assemblies and return faulty assemblies to production for repair
  • - Collect, record and summarize inspection results
  • - Investigate equipment malfunction and instruct on proper operation.
  • Electronics testers perform some or all of the following duties:
  • - Operate various test equipment and tools to perform simple electrical and continuity testing of electronic components, parts and systems
  • - Set up and operate automatic testing equipment to locate circuit and wiring faults, shorts and component defects
  • - Compare test results to specifications and set parts or products aside for repair or replace components or parts as indicated by test equipment
  • - May conduct life tests (burn-ins) on components, subassemblies and assemblies
  • - Maintain test result reports.

Main characteristics of the occupation

These headings are provided for the following occupation(s) :

Employment requirements

  • * Completion of secondary school is usually required for electronics assemblers, fabricators, inspectors and testers.
  • * On-the-job training is usually provided for occupations in this unit group.
  • * A two-year apprenticeship and voluntary trade certification is available for electronics assemblers in Ontario and Saskatchewan.
  • * Electronics testers may require post-secondary courses in basic electronic theory, testing techniques and testing equipment.
  • * Electronics inspectors and testers may require experience as an electronics assembler or component fabricator.

Skill type

  • Occupations unique to processing, manufacturing and utilities

Skill level

  • Intermediate

More information

  • * Progression from electronics assembler or component fabricator to electronics inspector or tester is possible with additional training and experience.

Job titles - Classified elsewhere

Professional associations