Table 1Transition record

printed circuit board assemblertosurface-mount technology machine operator

A printed circuit board assembler already meets 68% of what the surface-mount technology machine operator role asks for. The move turns on 5 required skills not yet in the profile.

From printed circuit board assembler

68%

Overlap1

To surface-mount technology machine operator

23 Skills carried over

5 Required, not held

34.5 Difficulty2

adjacent 0–30

moderate 30–55

substantial 55–75

career change 75–100

this move, 34.5

This move: 34.5 of 100 · moderate

1 Share of the surface-mount technology machine operator role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the printed circuit board assembler profile. Required skills count in full, supplementary skills at 0.35. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. 2 Combines what is missing with how specialised it is, so a gap of general skills scores easier than the same number of narrow ones.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 23 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 printed circuit board assembler background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area

already held coat printed circuit board working with machinery and specialised equipment
already held clean printed circuit board handling and moving
already held operate SMT placement equipment working with machinery and specialised equipment
already held prepare board for soldering handling and moving
already held operate wave soldering machine working with machinery and specialised equipment
already held IPC standards engineering, manufacturing and construction

All 23 carried skills, including the 13 the surface-mount technology machine operator role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 13 missing skills fall into 7 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered below in the order worth working in: the areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the supplementary ones.

Skill to acquire Tier

01 information skills 4 required

required, not held inspect quality of products required
required, not held monitor machine operations required
required, not held read standard blueprints required
required, not held report defective manufacturing materials required

02 business, administration and law 1 required

required, not held quality standards required

03 working with machinery and specialised equipment 4 supplementary

optional, not held operate automated optical inspection machine optional
optional, not held provide power connection from bus bars optional
optional, not held maintain electronic systems optional
optional, not held repair electronic components optional

04 assisting and caring 1 supplementary

optional, not held apply health and safety standards optional

05 communication, collaboration and creativity 1 supplementary

optional, not held apply technical communication skills optional

06 management skills 1 supplementary

optional, not held carry out shipping orders for parts optional

1 further area 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 23 skills that carry over

Skill Type

already held assemble printed circuit boards skill
already held clean printed circuit board skill
already held coat printed circuit board skill
already held electronics knowledge
already held ensure conformity to specifications skill
already held ensure public safety and security skill
already held interpret circuit diagrams skill
already held operate SMT placement equipment skill
already held prepare board for soldering skill
already held printed circuit boards knowledge
already held read assembly drawings skill
already held solder components onto electronic board skill
already held surface-mount technology knowledge
already held IPC standards knowledge
already held check for solder defects skill
already held dispose of hazardous waste skill
already held keep records of work progress skill
already held microelectronics knowledge
already held operate wave soldering machine skill
already held oversee logistics of finished products skill
already held replace defect components skill
already held resolve equipment malfunctions skill
already held use diagnostic tools for electronic repairs skill

The 1 learning area not shown above

Skill to acquire Tier

07 working with computers 1 supplementary

optional, not held use CAM software optional

8 supplementary skills, helpful but not required

Skill to acquire Tier

optional, not held carry out shipping orders for parts optional
optional, not held operate automated optical inspection machine optional
optional, not held provide power connection from bus bars optional
optional, not held apply health and safety standards optional
optional, not held apply technical communication skills optional
optional, not held maintain electronic systems optional
optional, not held repair electronic components optional
optional, not held use CAM software optional

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

Skill Type

not needed by the target role 3D printing process knowledge
not needed by the target role apply through-hole technology manually skill
not needed by the target role clean components during assembly skill
not needed by the target role determine suitability of materials skill
not needed by the target role electrochemistry knowledge
not needed by the target role electroplating knowledge
not needed by the target role integrated circuits knowledge
not needed by the target role maintain microelectronics skill
not needed by the target role maintenance of printing machines knowledge
not needed by the target role maintenance operations knowledge
not needed by the target role meet deadlines skill
not needed by the target role microprocessors knowledge
not needed by the target role operate 3D computer graphics software skill
not needed by the target role operate insertion mount machine skill
not needed by the target role operate precision machinery skill
not needed by the target role operate printing machinery skill
not needed by the target role pack electronic equipment skill
not needed by the target role printed circuit boards testing methods knowledge
not needed by the target role printing materials knowledge
not needed by the target role printing on large scale machines knowledge
not needed by the target role printing techniques knowledge
not needed by the target role semiconductors knowledge
not needed by the target role test microelectronics skill
not needed by the target role test printed circuit boards skill
not needed by the target role through-hole technology knowledge

1 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 acquire Tier

required, not held quality standards required

Index

Other moves recorded from printed circuit board assembler

Full index of moves from printed circuit board assembler

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.