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What is a Final Assembly?
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
A final assembly is the last stage in the manufacturing process, the point where the components of a product are put together and it is prepared for delivery. Whether products are being made to order for custom applications or rolled off an assembly line in high volume, they are finished and contain all of their parts after final assembly. This stage also provides an opportunity for a quality control inspection so that the factory workers can confirm that the product meets the standards set out by management.
The length of time the assembly process takes from start to final assembly varies depending on the product and the facility. Mass produced products are generally made more quickly because they utilize standard components. Products with special features and custom additions may take longer because certain steps may vary. Assembly line supervisors time product production and attempt to keep assembly times below a set target.
The layout of a manufacturing line can be organized in many different ways. It is not uncommon for separate components to be made on separate lines and to converge at the point of final assembly. These major components are put together and the finishing touches are added to create a complete product. Manufacturing on separate lines also easily allows for the use of interchangeable components on products in the same line. This can increase efficiency, lower costs, and streamline the manufacturing process.
In final assembly, the last of the product components are added in or packaged with the product so that they can be added by a dealer or consumer after delivery, depending on the product. Protective wrappings for transit are applied to ensure that the product will ship safely with minimal risk of damage. If the product has identification and serial numbers, they are checked and logged to create a record that will stay with the product for life so that when consumers call with servicing questions, their products can be quickly looked up.
Workers involved in the final assembly check to confirm that all components are present and installed correctly. They may perform tests on mechanical components and a checklist is usually followed to ensure that the final product is comprehensively examined before it is sent out the door for shipping. Especially for things like aircraft and cars, this stage of the assembly process is very important as a mistake could be very costly and potentially even deadly.
Mary McMahon
Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.
Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.
Learn more...AS FEATURED ON:
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![During final assembly, a worker might follow a checklist to ensure a product is completely prepared and ready for delivery.]()
By: highwaystarzDuring final assembly, a worker might follow a checklist to ensure a product is completely prepared and ready for delivery. -
![A final assembly refers to the last stage in the manufacturing process, when a product is complete and ready for delivery.]()
By: Nataliya HoraA final assembly refers to the last stage in the manufacturing process, when a product is complete and ready for delivery. -
![Some components must be produced separately before the final product can be assembled on a line.]()
By: Photographee.euSome components must be produced separately before the final product can be assembled on a line.
Discussion Comments
A few decades ago, assembly production was different then it is today. For example, in Henry Ford's car assembly factory back in the 30s and 40s, each worker did one little task and had to keep up so he wouldn't slow up the whole line. Supervisors needed to keep pushing the employees to speed up.
The assembly lines in Henry Ford's day were not terribly efficient, but the assembly lines of today are a lot more efficient and can be customized to make products that are basically the same, but have special touches put on them.
@MrMoody - Yes, and even if you’d like to blame someone upstream, you realize that most of the “workers” in today’s assembly lines are robots.
I imagine that the final assembly would be the most stressful part of the assembly line process.
It’s one thing to be responsible for putting in a component or two as the products make their way down the conveyor belt. It’s quite another thing to be the last person in the chain of production, before the unit goes out.
If something goes wrong, it will come back to you first, even if you find that the defect was in a component that was put in somewhere upstream in the production line.
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