Assembling and checking printed and allied electronic circuits

URN: SEMEEE316
Business Sectors (Suites): Electrical and Electronic Engineering Suite 3
Developed by: Enginuity
Approved on: 2020

Overview

This standard identifies the competences you need to assemble and check printed and allied circuit types, which include printed circuit boards (PCBs), thick film, thin film and flexible film circuitry, in accordance with approved procedures. You will be expected to assemble a range of components such as resistors (fixed and variable), capacitors (fixed and variable), diodes, transistors and other semiconductor devices, integrated circuits (analogue and digital), wound components, switches, indicators, wire links and a range of connectors, spacers and brackets to form various types of circuits. This will involve using a range of tools and equipment,soldering techniques and electro-static discharge (ESD) protection techniques. Your responsibilities will require you to comply with organisational policy and procedures for the assembly activities undertaken and to report any problems with the assembly activities that you cannot personally resolve, or are outside your permitted authority, to the relevant people. In particular, you will be expected to complete a number of general support tasks relating to your assembly work, to review the instructions and associated guidance, to prepare and complete the assembly activities and to keep records of your work output. You will be expected to work with a minimum of supervision, taking full responsibility for your own actions and for the quality and accuracy of the work that you carry out. Your underpinning knowledge will provide a good understanding of your work and will provide an informed approach to applying electronic assembly procedures. You will understand the electronic assembly processes and their application and will know about the components used, in adequate depth to provide a sound basis for carrying out the activities to the required specification. You will understand the safety precautions required when working in an electronic component assembly environment and with the associated tools and equipment. You will be required to demonstrate safe working practices throughout and will understand the responsibility you owe to yourself and others in the workplace.

Performance criteria

You must be able to:

  1. work safely at all times, complying with health and safety legislation, regulations, directives and other relevant guidelines
  2. follow the relevant instructions, assembly drawings and any other specifications
  3. ensure that the specified components are available and that they are in a usable condition
  4. assemble the components in their correct positions, using appropriate methods and techniques
  5. secure the components using the specified connectors and securing devices
  6. check the completed assembly to ensure that all operations have been completed and it meets the required specification
  7. deal promptly and effectively with problems within your control and report those that cannot be solved
  8. ensure that work records are completed, stored securely and available to others, as per organisational requirements
  9. leave the work area in a safe condition on completion of the activities, as per organisational and legal requirements

Knowledge and Understanding

You need to know and understand:

  1. the specific safety precautions to be taken whilst carrying out the  activities (including any specific legislation, regulations or codes of practice relating to the activities, equipment or materials)
  2. the health and safety requirements of the work area  and the activities, and the responsibility these requirements place on you
  3. the hazards associated with  the activities, and how to minimise them and reduce risks
  4. the personal protective equipment and clothing (PPE) to be worn during the activities
  5. voltage ranges, what constitutes a hazardous voltage and how to reduce the risks of a phase to earth shock
  6. and handling areas)
  7. how to recognise and deal effectively with victims of electric shock (to include methods of safely isolating the power source and methods of first aid resuscitation)
  8. the clean work area protocols, what they involve and how to follow them (where appropriate)
  9. how to use and extract information from engineering drawings and related specifications (to include symbols and conventions to appropriate current industry standards anc codes of practice) how to use the organisational specifications for the post-production assembly checks
  10. the preparation requirements for components to be used in the assembly
  11. how to prepare, operate and care for the production system/equipment for the electronic assembly
  12. how to recognise, read the values and identify polarity and any other orientation requirements for all electronic components being used in the subject assemblies (to include capacitors, resistors, inductors, diodes, transistors, integrated circuit chips and other discrete through-hole or surface-mounted components)
  13. the basic operating function of the electronic components being assembled
  14. how to check the set-up and preparation of the production assembly system
  15. the quality procedures to be followed during the assembly processes
  16. how to check the output quality of assemblies produced (such as appearance of soldered joints, security of components, track faults in PCBs, appearance of substrates and freedom from signs of obvious damage)
  17. the importance of ensuring that all tools are used correctly and are in a safe and serviceable condition
  18. the importance of ensuring that all tools, equipment and components are accounted for and returned to their correct location on completion of the assembly activities
  19. the problems that can occur during the assembly and the actions needed to deal with them
  20. the extent of your own responsibility and whom you should report to if you have problems that you cannot resolve
  21. how to access, use and maintain information to comply with organisational requirements and legislation

Scope/range


Scope Performance

  1. Carry out all of the following during the assembly and checking activities:

    1. use the correct issue of drawings, job instructions and  specifications
    2. adhere to health and safety regulations, systems and procedures to realise a safe system of work
    3. follow clean work area protocols, where appropriate
    4. leave the work area in a safe and tidy condition
  2. Assemble one of the following circuit types:

    1. single-sided circuit            
    2. thick film circuit         
    3. thin film circuit
    4. flexible circuit                    
    5. double-sided circuit          
    6. hybrid circuit
  3. Assemble circuits using four of the following tools:

    1. soldering irons                       
    2. sleeving pliers               
    3. wire strippers
    4. heat shunts/tweezers            
    5. forming/bending jigs/tools
    6. threaded fasteners (screwdriver, spanners)
    7. snipe or long nosed pliers    
    8. side or end cutters          
    9. hot air guns
    10. dispensing tools (conductive grease, adhesive)
  4. Assemble circuits to the required specification, using seven of the following types of component:

    1. resistors (fixed/variable)      
    2. diodes                      
    3. edge connectors         
    4. brackets
    5. capacitors (fixed/variable)    
    6. integrated circuits   
    7. plugs/sockets           
    8. fixing spacers
    9. transistors, thyristors or triacs
    10. wound components 
    11. wiring pins/tags        
    12. insulators
    13. switches                         
    14. indicators         
    15. wire links              
    16.  heat sinks
  5. Assemble circuits using two of the following aids:

    1. workholding devices                   
    2. component forming devices
    3. jigs and fixtures                    
    4. specialised assembly tools/equipment
  6. Check the completed circuits, to ensure all of the following requirements are met:

    1. soldered joints are clean, shiny, free from solder spikes,      bridges, holes, excess solder and flux
    2. components are correctly mounted for best physical support and are correctly orientated
    3. excess component leads have been trimmed off to the standard required

    4. circuit tracks are free from faults (such as lifting, breaks, bridges, hot spots)

    5. there are no obvious signs of damage, to components or to the substrate
    6. all required connectors, wire links, spacers and other ancillary items are in place
  7. Check circuits  comply with one of the following quality and accuracy standards:

    1. current  industry standards, codes of practice and procedures     
    2. company standards and procedures
    3. customer standards and requirements

Scope Knowledge


Values


Behaviours


Skills


Glossary


Links To Other NOS


External Links


Version Number

2

Indicative Review Date

2023

Validity

Current

Status

Original

Originating Organisation

Semta

Original URN

SEMEEE3-16

Relevant Occupations

Engineering, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies, Engineering Technicians, Maintenance Team Technician, Manufacturing Technologies, Production and Process Engineers

SOC Code

3113

Keywords

Engineering; electrical; electronic; assemble; check; circuits; printed; allied; methods; equipment