What does the term "progressive assembly" refer to in manufacturing?

The term "progressive assembly" in manufacturing specifically refers to the practice of adding parts to products as they move along a conveyor system. This approach optimizes the assembly process by allowing multiple assembly tasks to occur simultaneously while the product is in motion, which can lead to increased efficiency and reduced labor costs. This method harnesses the continuous movement of the conveyor to streamline the production line, ensuring that each stage of assembly is performed in a timely manner without downtime.

In this context, while adding parts to completed units could indicate a sort of assembly process, it does not align with the idea of progressive assembly where the process involves real-time addition of components. Disassembling finished products is contrary to assembly as it involves breaking down what has already been finalized. Final inspections and quality control processes, while essential to manufacturing, occur after the assembly is completed rather than during the progressive assembly phase. Therefore, the description of parts being added to moving parts on a conveyor is the most accurate representation of what "progressive assembly" entails within a manufacturing setting.