Manufacturing & ProductionISCO 8212

Wave soldering machine operator

Wave soldering machine operators set up and operate machines to solder electronic components to the printed circuit board. They read blueprints and layout designs.

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Check yourself in a minute: wave soldering machine operator

Rate 5 of the 16 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

monitor machine operations

solder components onto electronic board

measure furnace temperature

maintain furnace temperature

read assembly drawings

About wave soldering machine operator

As a wave soldering machine operator, you will set up, operate, and maintain advanced equipment that solders electronic components onto printed circuit boards. Your daily responsibilities include reading blueprints and assembly drawings, interpreting circuit diagrams, and preparing boards for soldering. You will monitor machine operations, maintain precise furnace temperatures, measure and adjust temperature scales, and perform quality inspections to ensure products meet strict specifications. This role demands attention to detail, technical knowledge of electronics assembly, and commitment to safety standards. Your work is essential to the electronics manufacturing industry.

Key Work Functions

Core areas of responsibility for a wave soldering machine operator.

Equipment Setup and Preparation

Set up wave soldering machines according to production requirements and specifications
Read and interpret blueprints, assembly drawings, and circuit diagrams
Prepare printed circuit boards for soldering by positioning and securing them properly
Configure machine parameters based on component specifications and board requirements

Machine Operation and Temperature Control

Operate wave soldering machines to solder electronic components onto boards
Monitor and maintain furnace temperature within specified ranges
Measure furnace temperature using temperature scales and monitoring devices
Monitor machine operations continuously to identify and resolve issues promptly

Quality Control and Inspection

Inspect quality of soldered products to ensure conformity to specifications
Identify defects and non-conformities in assembled boards
Perform periodic quality testing to verify solder joint integrity
Document quality control results and report any issues to supervisors

Safety and Maintenance

Ensure public safety and security by maintaining safe working practices and proper personal protective equipment
Perform routine maintenance on soldering equipment to ensure optimal operation
Clean and maintain furnace and solder systems
Assemble printed circuit boards ensuring proper component placement and orientation

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (16)

printed circuit boardsprinted circuit boardsPrinted circuit boards (PCB) are essential components to almost all electronic devices. They consist of thin wafers or substrates on which electronic components, such as microchips, are placed. The el...temperature scalestemperature scalesCelsius and Fahrenheit temperature scales.quality standardsquality standardsThe national and international requirements, specifications and guidelines to ensure that products, services and processes are of good quality and fit for purpose.monitor machine operationsmonitor machine operationsObserving machine operations and evaluating product quality thereby ensuring conformity to standards.solder components onto electronic boardsolder components onto electronic boardSolder electronic components onto bare electronic boards to create loaded electronic boards using hand soldering tools or soldering machinery.measure furnace temperaturemeasure furnace temperatureMonitor the product temperature using the available tools and measuring instruments and adjust furnace temperature if needed.maintain furnace temperaturemaintain furnace temperatureMonitor and govern the pyrometer to control the furnace temperature.read assembly drawingsread assembly drawingsRead and interpret drawings listing all the parts and subassemblies of a certain product. The drawing identifies the different components and materials and provides instructions on how to assemble a p...ensure public safety and securityensure public safety and securityImplement the relevant procedures, strategies and use the proper equipment to promote local or national security activities for the protection of data, people, institutions, and property.read standard blueprintsread standard blueprintsRead and comprehend standard blueprints, machine, and process drawings.operate wave soldering machineoperate wave soldering machineOperate the wave soldering machine to solder electronic components onto the printed circuit board. Here, the board is moved over a wave of liquid solder and the connections inserted through the board ...prepare board for solderingprepare board for solderingPrepare the loaded printed circuit boards for solder operations. Clean the board and mark designated areas.inspect quality of productsinspect quality of productsUse various techniques to ensure the product quality is respecting the quality standards and specifications. Oversee defects, packaging and sendbacks of products to different production departments.assemble printed circuit boardsassemble printed circuit boardsAttach electronic components to the printed circuit board through applying soldering techniques. Electronic components are placed in holes in through-hole assembly (THT), or are placed on the surface ...ensure conformity to specificationsensure conformity to specificationsEnsure that the assembled products are conform to the specifications given.interpret circuit diagramsinterpret circuit diagramsRead and comprehend circuit diagrams showing the connections between the devices, such as power and signal connections.

Optional (17) — show

printed circuit boards testing methodsprinted circuit boards testing methodsPrinted circuit board (PCB) testing methods consist of those processes in which PCB components or systems are tested, such as the in-circuit test (ICT), joint test action group (JTAG) test, and automa...IPC standardsIPC standardsStandards and guidelines with regards to the use and manufacture of electronics and printed circuit boards. These regulations provide rules and guidelines on topics such as general safety rules, elect...through-hole technologythrough-hole technologyThrough-hole technology or THT is a method of mounting electronic components onto the printed circuit board through inserting leads on the components into holes in the circuit board and soldering the ...surface-mount technologysurface-mount technologySurface-mount technology or SMT is a method where the electronic components are placed on the surface of the printed circuit board. SMT components attached in this way are usually sensitive, small com...resolve equipment malfunctionsresolve equipment malfunctionsIdentify, report and repair equipment damage and malfunctions. Communicate with field representatives and manufacturers to obtain repair and replacement components.dispose of soldering wastedispose of soldering wasteCollect and transport solder dross in special containers for hazardous waste.oversee logistics of finished productsoversee logistics of finished productsEnsure that the processes of packing, storage and shipment of finished products meet the requirements.check for solder defectscheck for solder defectsCheck the printed circuit board for solder defects and make adjustments as required.use CAM softwareuse CAM softwareUse computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) programmes to control machinery and machine tools in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimisation as part of the manufacturing processes of workpieces.report defective manufacturing materialsreport defective manufacturing materialsMaintain required company records and forms in order to report any defective materials or questionable conditions of manufacturing machinery and equipment.apply technical communication skillsapply technical communication skillsExplain technical details to non-technical customers, stakeholders, or any other interested parties in a clear and concise manner.keep records of work progresskeep records of work progressMaintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.test printed circuit boardstest printed circuit boardsTest the printed circuit board with special testing adapters to ensure optimal efficiency, functionality, and that everything works according to design. Adapt the testing devices to the type of circui...apply health and safety standardsapply health and safety standardsAdhere to standards of hygiene and safety established by respective authorities.repair electronic componentsrepair electronic componentsRepair, replace or adjust damaged electronics components or circuitry. Use hand tools and soldering and welding equipment.write records for repairswrite records for repairsWrite records of the repairs and maintenance interventions undertaken, of parts and materials used, and other repair facts.clean printed circuit boardclean printed circuit boardClean the printed circuit boards and components as necessary before, during, and after the assembly process.

Related Occupations

Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.

surface-mount technology machine operator12 shared essential skills printed circuit board assembler8 shared essential skills automated optical inspection operator7 shared essential skills computer hardware test technician6 shared essential skills electronics production supervisor6 shared essential skills printed circuit board test technician6 shared essential skills battery assembler5 shared essential skills electronic equipment assembler5 shared essential skills

Frequently asked questions

What does a wave soldering machine operator do?

Wave soldering machine operators set up and operate machines to solder electronic components to the printed circuit board. They read blueprints and layout designs.

What skills does a wave soldering machine operator need?

A wave soldering machine operator needs 16 essential skills, including printed circuit boards, temperature scales, quality standards, monitor machine operations, solder components onto electronic board.

Will AI replace wave soldering machine operator jobs?

The AI disruption score for wave soldering machine operator is 70/100 (high risk). Skills most exposed to automation: temperature scales, assemble printed circuit boards, quality standards. Most resilient: dispose of soldering waste, ensure public safety and security, repair electronic components.

AI Replacement Risk

70/ 100

High Risk

Low riskHigh risk

Skills most at risk from AI

temperature scales assemble printed circuit boards quality standards

Skills resilient to automation

dispose of soldering waste ensure public safety and security repair electronic components

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Quick Facts

SectorManufacturing & Production

ISCO GroupAssemblers

Essential Skills16

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