RecordMove

Mechatronics assembler to surface-mount technology machine operator

A mechatronics assembler already meets 44% of what the surface-mount technology machine operator role asks for. The move turns on 9 required skills not yet in the profile.

Fig. 1 · Skill transfer ESCO v1.2.1 · directional

From mechatronics assembler

Partial match

To surface-mount technology machine operator

14 You already bring

9 Still to learn

36 Skills in the target role2

Learning distance Substantial retraining

59.1/ 100

adjacentmoderatesubstantialcareer change

1 How much of what a surface-mount technology machine operator is expected to do is already part of a mechatronics assembler’s work. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs, because moving into a speciality is not the same problem as moving out of one. 2 Every skill the surface-mount technology machine operator role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.

Why

Why this move works

A surface-mount technology machine operator role treats 9 of its required skills as things a mechatronics assembler already does. You would walk in with these on day one.

electronics
ensure conformity to specifications
inspect quality of products
interpret circuit diagrams
monitor machine operations
quality standards

What stands in the way is 9 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 14 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A surface-mount technology machine operator role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a mechatronics assembler background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area

already held provide power connection from bus bars working with machinery and specialised equipment
already held microelectronics engineering, manufacturing and construction
already held interpret circuit diagrams information skills
already held read assembly drawings information skills
already held replace defect components working with machinery and specialised equipment
already held ensure conformity to specifications assisting and caring

All 14 carried skills, including the 9 the surface-mount technology machine operator role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you may need to learn

The 22 missing skills fall into 9 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered in the order worth working in. Areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the optional ones. Nothing here is a verdict on you: it is a list of what this particular job asks for that your current one does not.

Skill to pick up Tier

01 handling and moving 3 required, 1 supplementary

still to learn assemble printed circuit boards required
still to learn clean printed circuit board required
still to learn prepare board for soldering required

optional, not held dispose of hazardous waste optional

02 working with machinery and specialised equipment 2 required, 5 supplementary

still to learn coat printed circuit board required
still to learn operate SMT placement equipment required

optional, not held operate automated optical inspection machine optional
optional, not held operate wave soldering machine optional
optional, not held maintain electronic systems optional
optional, not held repair electronic components optional
optional, not held use diagnostic tools for electronic repairs optional

03 assisting and caring 1 required, 1 supplementary

still to learn ensure public safety and security required

optional, not held apply health and safety standards optional

04 constructing 1 required, 1 supplementary

still to learn solder components onto electronic board required

optional, not held check for solder defects optional

05 engineering, manufacturing and construction 1 required, 1 supplementary

still to learn surface-mount technology required

optional, not held IPC standards optional

06 information and communication technologies (icts) 1 required

still to learn printed circuit boards required

3 further areas in the appendix

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a surface-mount technology machine operator role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 14 skills that carry over

Skill Type

already held electronics knowledge
already held ensure conformity to specifications skill
already held inspect quality of products skill
already held interpret circuit diagrams skill
already held monitor machine operations skill
already held quality standards knowledge
already held read assembly drawings skill
already held read standard blueprints skill
already held report defective manufacturing materials skill
already held microelectronics knowledge
already held provide power connection from bus bars skill
already held replace defect components skill
already held resolve equipment malfunctions skill
already held use CAM software skill

The 3 learning areas not shown above

Skill to pick up Tier

07 management skills 2 supplementary

optional, not held carry out shipping orders for parts optional
optional, not held oversee logistics of finished products optional

08 communication, collaboration and creativity 1 supplementary

optional, not held apply technical communication skills optional

09 information skills 1 supplementary

optional, not held keep records of work progress optional

13 supplementary skills, helpful but not required

Skill to pick up Tier

optional, not held IPC standards optional
optional, not held carry out shipping orders for parts optional
optional, not held operate automated optical inspection machine optional
optional, not held operate wave soldering machine optional
optional, not held apply health and safety standards optional
optional, not held apply technical communication skills optional
optional, not held check for solder defects optional
optional, not held dispose of hazardous waste optional
optional, not held keep records of work progress optional
optional, not held maintain electronic systems optional
optional, not held oversee logistics of finished products optional
optional, not held repair electronic components optional
optional, not held use diagnostic tools for electronic repairs optional

42 held skills the surface-mount technology machine operator role does not ask for

Skill Type

not needed by the target role ICT system programming knowledge
not needed by the target role adjust manufacturing equipment skill
not needed by the target role align components skill
not needed by the target role apply assembly techniques skill
not needed by the target role apply soldering techniques skill
not needed by the target role assemble hardware components skill
not needed by the target role assemble machines skill
not needed by the target role assemble mechatronic units skill
not needed by the target role assemble robots skill
not needed by the target role automation technology knowledge
not needed by the target role check system parameters against reference values skill
not needed by the target role clean components during assembly skill
not needed by the target role computer engineering knowledge
not needed by the target role computer equipment knowledge
not needed by the target role crimping knowledge
not needed by the target role electrical discharge knowledge
not needed by the target role electromechanics knowledge
not needed by the target role electronics principles knowledge
not needed by the target role follow standards for machinery safety skill
not needed by the target role hydraulics knowledge
not needed by the target role install automation components skill
not needed by the target role install blinds drive systems skill
not needed by the target role install mechatronic equipment skill
not needed by the target role instrumentation engineering knowledge
not needed by the target role keep up with digital transformation of industrial processes skill
not needed by the target role maintain mechatronic equipment skill
not needed by the target role measure electrical characteristics skill
not needed by the target role measure parts of manufactured products skill
not needed by the target role mechanical engineering knowledge
not needed by the target role mechatronics knowledge
not needed by the target role meet deadlines skill
not needed by the target role operate precision measuring equipment skill
not needed by the target role perform metal work skill
not needed by the target role pneumatics knowledge
not needed by the target role program firmware skill
not needed by the target role remove defective products skill
not needed by the target role replace machines skill
not needed by the target role robotics knowledge
not needed by the target role safety engineering knowledge
not needed by the target role set up the controller of a machine skill

2 further entries not listed here

3 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice

Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.

Skill to pick up Tier

still to learn surface-mount technology required
still to learn printed circuit boards required
optional, not held IPC standards optional

Index

Other moves recorded from mechatronics assembler

Full index of moves from mechatronics assembler

FAQ

Common questions about this move

Can a mechatronics assembler become a surface-mount technology machine operator?

Yes, and it is a substantial move. A mechatronics assembler already covers 44% of what a surface-mount technology machine operator is expected to do: 14 skills carry over, 9 of which the surface-mount technology machine operator role treats as required.

What skills does a mechatronics assembler need to become a surface-mount technology machine operator?

9 required skills are missing, plus 13 optional ones. They fall into 9 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by handling and moving. The single most important is assemble printed circuit boards.

How hard is the move from mechatronics assembler to surface-mount technology machine operator?

Its learning distance is 59.1 out of 100, which is the substantial band. That accounts for both how much is missing and how specialised those skills are.

Note

How this record was compiled

Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.