There are several types of assembly tools in electric, air and manual configurations used on assembly lines and in manufacturing facilities around the world. Drills, nut drivers and socket wrenches are just a few of the assembly tools used to secure nuts and bolts or drill holes. Hand wrenches, hammers and pliers are some of the manually operated assembly tools used for everything from lining heavy steel components to attaching small clips and electrical connections. Many of the tools are affixed to wires and suspended from the ceiling to keep them within easy reach of assembly line workers.
Power tools make up a great majority of tools used on an assembly line or in a manufacturing plant. Some of these assembly tools are electrically-powered, while others are air-driven. Drill motors, screwdrivers and nut drivers make up some of the most common tools on smaller-sized assembly lines, while very strong ratchets, screw guns and welders are used on the larger lines. Whether electric or air-driven, these power tools often make the task of attaching a component to an item traveling on an assembly line much easier for the employee. In some situations, a power drill and a screw or nut driver will be used by a worker at a single station.
Some work stations require use of both a power tool and a hand tool to perform a task on the assembly line. A bolt or fastener is commonly held at one end with a hand tool while the worker uses a power ratchet to drive a nut onto the bolt. In other areas of the factory, a worker might use a long bar in one hand to force a component into position. This same worker may use a power ratchet in the other hand to bolt the component in place. This blending of power tools with hand tools is typical in many assembly plants.
Assembly tools are sometimes suspended by cables or chains from a structure over the assembly line. These assembly tools are typically attached to a retractable component that allows the worker to pull the tool down when needed. The system retracts the tool up and out of the way when not in use. This system is also used with many hand tools to provide an easy-to-reach tool that is always in the same location. Pliers, wire crimpers and even soldering irons are a sample of assembly tools that are typically kept in a waist pouch or in a particular area on a workbench.