Assembly Line

Assembling

Finished parts come together in a planned order, by hand, by robot or by both, at a station on the line.

231 lines that use it

AA battery 8 stations · 22 raw sources Acoustic guitar 8 stations · 16 raw sources Action figure 7 stations · 22 raw sources Air conditioner 6 stations · 23 raw sources Air freshener 5 stations · 21 raw sources Airbag 8 stations · 25 raw sources Airliner 9 stations · 33 raw sources Aluminum ladder 7 stations · 10 raw sources Aluminum window frame 9 stations · 24 raw sources American football 7 stations · 18 raw sources Asthma inhaler 6 stations · 16 raw sources Ball bearing 9 stations · 13 raw sources Ballpoint pen 7 stations · 27 raw sources Barbed wire 7 stations · 13 raw sources Baseball cap 6 stations · 12 raw sources Basketball 8 stations · 20 raw sources Beef jerky 6 stations · 8 raw sources Bicycle 8 stations · 26 raw sources Bike helmet 7 stations · 11 raw sources Blender 7 stations · 30 raw sources Board game 6 stations · 18 raw sources Book 6 stations · 19 raw sources Bronze bell 6 stations · 8 raw sources Camera drone 7 stations · 29 raw sources Camera lens 6 stations · 10 raw sources Camera sensor 6 stations · 15 raw sources Candle 7 stations · 18 raw sources Canned meat 9 stations · 23 raw sources Canoe 7 stations · 13 raw sources Car 8 stations · 31 raw sources Car battery 6 stations · 8 raw sources Car engine 8 stations · 18 raw sources Cardboard box 5 stations · 17 raw sources Ceiling fan 8 stations · 28 raw sources Cello 10 stations · 13 raw sources Charcoal 5 stations · 1 raw source Chess set 9 stations · 13 raw sources Clothespin 7 stations · 12 raw sources Coffee mug 8 stations · 2 raw sources Computer keyboard 6 stations · 25 raw sources Computer mouse 5 stations · 24 raw sources Container ship 9 stations · 23 raw sources Cotton candy 9 stations · 17 raw sources Cotton fabric 6 stations · 3 raw sources Cotton swab 6 stations · 19 raw sources Crayon 7 stations · 18 raw sources Credit card 7 stations · 23 raw sources Cricket bat 7 stations · 9 raw sources Cultured pearl 6 stations · 2 raw sources Curtains 8 stations · 9 raw sources Dartboard 7 stations · 22 raw sources Denim 6 stations · 3 raw sources Dental floss 7 stations · 12 raw sources Desk globe 6 stations · 15 raw sources Die-cast toy car 8 stations · 24 raw sources Digital camera 8 stations · 32 raw sources Digital thermometer 7 stations · 26 raw sources Dishwasher 11 stations · 27 raw sources Disposable diaper 6 stations · 9 raw sources Door hinge 7 stations · 18 raw sources Double-glazed window 6 stations · 18 raw sources Down jacket 6 stations · 17 raw sources Dress shirt 7 stations · 12 raw sources Drum kit 8 stations · 19 raw sources Drumstick 8 stations · 8 raw sources Duct tape 6 stations · 12 raw sources Dumbbell 8 stations · 20 raw sources E-reader 6 stations · 30 raw sources Egg carton 6 stations · 7 raw sources Electric car 8 stations · 34 raw sources Electric car battery 6 stations · 28 raw sources Electric guitar 8 stations · 22 raw sources Electric kettle 10 stations · 27 raw sources Electric motor 6 stations · 15 raw sources Electric toothbrush 6 stations · 32 raw sources Electrical transformer 6 stations · 14 raw sources Elevator 8 stations · 26 raw sources Envelope 6 stations · 18 raw sources Eraser 6 stations · 19 raw sources Eyeglass frame 8 stations · 28 raw sources Fashion doll 7 stations · 21 raw sources Faucet 11 stations · 23 raw sources Fire extinguisher 8 stations · 27 raw sources Fireworks 6 stations · 18 raw sources Fishing rod 8 stations · 24 raw sources Flag 6 stations · 21 raw sources Flip-flops 6 stations · 15 raw sources Flute 9 stations · 12 raw sources Fountain pen 6 stations · 20 raw sources Frozen pizza 8 stations · 16 raw sources Garden hose 6 stations · 18 raw sources Gas cylinder 10 stations · 25 raw sources Gelatin capsule 5 stations · 11 raw sources Gold ring 8 stations · 12 raw sources Golf club 10 stations · 27 raw sources Graphics card 7 stations · 26 raw sources Guitar string 6 stations · 18 raw sources Hairspray 7 stations · 21 raw sources Hammer 8 stations · 21 raw sources Hard drive 6 stations · 27 raw sources Hard-shell suitcase 6 stations · 22 raw sources Harmonica 8 stations · 19 raw sources Headphones 6 stations · 14 raw sources Hearing aid 6 stations · 24 raw sources Heart stent 6 stations · 15 raw sources High heels 8 stations · 23 raw sources Highlighter 6 stations · 16 raw sources Hoodie 6 stations · 9 raw sources Ice skates 8 stations · 22 raw sources Incandescent light bulb 7 stations · 11 raw sources Inflatable pool toy 7 stations · 9 raw sources Inkjet printer 6 stations · 31 raw sources Jeans 7 stations · 18 raw sources Jet engine 7 stations · 23 raw sources Key 6 stations · 13 raw sources Kitchen knife 6 stations · 16 raw sources Kite 10 stations · 14 raw sources Laptop 6 stations · 31 raw sources LCD screen 6 stations · 19 raw sources Leather belt 10 stations · 28 raw sources Leather handbag 6 stations · 20 raw sources Leather shoe 6 stations · 17 raw sources Leather wallet 10 stations · 15 raw sources LED 8 stations · 10 raw sources LED light bulb 7 stations · 20 raw sources Leggings 8 stations · 11 raw sources Light switch 8 stations · 26 raw sources Lipstick 7 stations · 13 raw sources Lithium-ion cell 10 stations · 23 raw sources Locomotive 8 stations · 28 raw sources Loudspeaker 10 stations · 19 raw sources Marker pen 5 stations · 16 raw sources Mattress 6 stations · 16 raw sources Mechanical wristwatch 6 stations · 26 raw sources Memory chip 7 stations · 10 raw sources Microphone 8 stations · 19 raw sources Microwave oven 10 stations · 27 raw sources Microwave popcorn 8 stations · 20 raw sources Motorcycle 8 stations · 29 raw sources Mouthwash 8 stations · 17 raw sources N95 mask 8 stations · 7 raw sources Neodymium magnet 8 stations · 6 raw sources Neon sign 9 stations · 24 raw sources Nonstick pan 7 stations · 10 raw sources Oak wine barrel 7 stations · 12 raw sources Office chair 7 stations · 17 raw sources Olympic-style medal 8 stations · 12 raw sources Orbital rocket 7 stations · 22 raw sources Pacemaker 7 stations · 24 raw sources Padlock 7 stations · 25 raw sources Paper bag 6 stations · 10 raw sources Paper cup 7 stations · 18 raw sources Paper straw 6 stations · 10 raw sources Paperclip 5 stations · 20 raw sources Pearl oysters 5 stations Pencil 8 stations · 24 raw sources Phone charger 8 stations · 26 raw sources Piano 8 stations · 15 raw sources Pinball machine 7 stations · 21 raw sources Playing cards 6 stations · 18 raw sources Power outlet 6 stations · 18 raw sources Pressure cooker 8 stations · 18 raw sources Prosthetic leg 6 stations · 15 raw sources Refrigerator 11 stations · 27 raw sources Remote control 7 stations · 27 raw sources Roller skates 8 stations · 15 raw sources Rubber band 6 stations · 2 raw sources Rubber boots 6 stations · 9 raw sources Rubik's Cube 7 stations · 21 raw sources Safety pin 9 stations · 21 raw sources Sailboat 11 stations · 21 raw sources Sandwich cookie 7 stations · 14 raw sources Satellite 11 stations · 29 raw sources Saxophone 9 stations · 25 raw sources Scissors 8 stations · 22 raw sources Seat belt 8 stations · 15 raw sources Shipping container 8 stations · 23 raw sources Shovel 7 stations · 13 raw sources Skateboard 8 stations · 22 raw sources Ski 8 stations · 24 raw sources Skyscraper 6 stations · 29 raw sources Smartphone 6 stations · 30 raw sources Smartwatch 9 stations · 31 raw sources Smoke detector 8 stations · 25 raw sources Sneaker 6 stations · 13 raw sources Snow globe 9 stations · 26 raw sources Snowboard 10 stations · 23 raw sources Soccer ball 7 stations · 17 raw sources Sofa 7 stations · 17 raw sources Solar panel 11 stations · 21 raw sources Solder 6 stations · 10 raw sources Solid-state drive 6 stations · 22 raw sources Spark plug 8 stations · 16 raw sources Stained glass 10 stations · 24 raw sources Subway train 8 stations · 27 raw sources Sunglasses 9 stations · 15 raw sources Surfboard 8 stations · 14 raw sources Suspension bridge cable 7 stations · 22 raw sources Syringe 7 stations · 23 raw sources Tampon 7 stations · 14 raw sources Teddy bear 6 stations · 8 raw sources Television 6 stations · 26 raw sources Tennis ball 8 stations · 10 raw sources Tennis racket 9 stations · 25 raw sources Tin can 9 stations · 21 raw sources Tire 8 stations · 22 raw sources Toaster 6 stations · 17 raw sources Toothbrush 7 stations · 14 raw sources Treadmill 8 stations · 24 raw sources Ukulele 9 stations · 11 raw sources Umbrella 8 stations · 19 raw sources USB cable 9 stations · 22 raw sources Vacuum cleaner 11 stations · 24 raw sources Vacuum flask 6 stations · 19 raw sources Video game console 7 stations · 29 raw sources Violin 8 stations · 13 raw sources Volleyball 5 stations · 14 raw sources Washing machine 12 stations · 31 raw sources Water heater 6 stations · 24 raw sources Wheelbarrow 9 stations · 23 raw sources Wheelchair 6 stations · 15 raw sources Wi-Fi router 7 stations · 27 raw sources Wind turbine 6 stations · 25 raw sources Window glass 7 stations · 13 raw sources Wire rope 6 stations · 12 raw sources Wireless earbuds 9 stations · 34 raw sources Wooden chair 6 stations · 21 raw sources Wooden door 6 stations · 11 raw sources Yo-yo 8 stations · 18 raw sources Yoga mat 6 stations · 9 raw sources Zipper 6 stations · 16 raw sources

What it looks like on the line

  • CelloString it. The nut, bridge and strings go on, and the nut's string grooves must be cut at precise spacing and angles for the cello to play in tune.
  • Microwave ovenBuild the magnetron. A filament goes on the cathode, and the cathode goes inside an anode cylinder, almost always copper. Cooling fins are welded on and a strong magnet wraps around. An antenna in a glass tube is fitted on top, and air is pumped out of the tube to leave a vacuum.
  • Desk globeJoin the hemispheres. Glue or snap fittings close the northern and southern halves into a sphere. On pressed-board globes, equator tape hides the seam.
  • RefrigeratorAttach the cooling circuit. Copper tube is cut, bent and soldered into condenser and evaporator coils, which arrive at the cabinet as a unit. Screws and clips hold the other cooling parts, the joints are soldered, and a protective coating is sprayed over them. Fins of aluminum or alloy add surface area on some designs. The compressor, a sealed motor and pump, is mounted at the base.
  • Washing machineSeal the pump. Robots set the impeller and seals into the cover and body, and heat or vibration fuses the housing shut. Air is then used to check every pump for leaks.
  • DishwasherHang the door. The door gets its detergent dispenser, rinse-agent cups and controls and is attached to the front. Electrical connections and the clean and dirty water lines are then finished.
  • PianoBuild the soundboard. Thin boards of spruce are glued edge to edge into a large panel and ribbed underneath. Vibration from the strings crosses a bridge to this panel, which moves enough air to be heard.
  • BookCase the text block. Glued endpapers join the text block to the finished case, and the book is pressed while the glue sets. A paper dust jacket may go around it afterward.
  • Container shipFit the cargo guides. The hull is like a vast warehouse divided into cells by vertical guide rails. Containers slide down between the rails and stay put in a swell.
  • SkyscraperInstall the elevators. Elevators are characteristic of skyscrapers. Elisha Otis introduced the safety elevator in 1852, which made upper floors practical to reach.
  • Wire ropeTerminate the ends. Ends are finished with a spliced eye or a loop held by U-bolt clips. A thimble inside the loop stops it bending too sharply and pinching the wires.
  • LoudspeakerWire the crossover. In multi-driver speakers, a small circuit of coils and capacitors splits the signal into frequency ranges for each driver. The drivers and crossover are screwed in and wired.