Occupation baseline · Research consensus
Will AI replace Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters?
Baseline AI displacement risk for Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters, aggregated from 6 research sources.
What this score means
Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters is among the least exposed roles in Manufacturing. Most of what the job involves still sits outside what current AI can do, even as the tools around it keep changing. At 8 out of 100 it scores 11 points below the Manufacturing average of 19. Across the 6 sources behind this baseline, individual estimates run from 5 to 14, so the score is a weighted consensus rather than any single figure.
The number is a consensus estimate for the typical version of the role, built from published academic and industry research scored occupation by occupation. It is not a prediction about any individual. How scoring works
What this job actually involves
Exposure follows the work itself rather than the job title, so it is worth seeing what the role is made of. These are the tasks O*NET records for Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters, most central first, showing 12 of 17.
- 01Assemble and install components of timepieces to complete mechanisms, using watchmakers' tools and loupes.
- 02Observe operation of timepiece parts and subassemblies to determine accuracy of movement, and to diagnose causes of defects.
- 03Test operation and fit of timepiece parts and subassemblies, using electronic testing equipment, tweezers, watchmakers' tools, and loupes.
- 04Replace specified parts to repair malfunctioning timepieces, using watchmakers' tools, loupes, and holding fixtures.
- 05Disassemble timepieces such as watches, clocks, and chronometers so that repairs can be made.
- 06Clean and lubricate timepiece parts and assemblies, using solvents, buff sticks, and oil.
- 07Examine components of timepieces such as watches, clocks, or chronometers for defects, using loupes or microscopes.
- 08Bend parts, such as hairsprings, pallets, barrel covers, and bridges, to correct deficiencies in truing or endshake, using tweezers.
- 09Change timing weights on balance wheels to correct deficient timing.
- 10Adjust sizes or positioning of timepiece parts to achieve specified fit or function, using calipers, fixtures, and loupes.
- 11Mount hairsprings and balance wheel assemblies between jaws of truing calipers.
- 12Estimate spaces between collets and first inner coils to determine if spaces are within acceptable limits.
Task statements from O*NET by the National Center for O*NET Development, used under CC BY 4.0. The tasks are descriptive; the exposure score above is ours.
The research behind this score
This baseline aggregates 6 research sources that scored Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters for AI and automation exposure. More recent, higher confidence studies carry more weight in the final number.
- 01Anthropic Economic Index 2026 - AI Task Exposure · 2026Anthropic
- 02Global Automation Atlas: Task Substitution Exposure by Occupation · 2026Garg, Crosta, Baier (2026), arXiv:2605.17086
- 03Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure · 2025International Labour Organization, Working Paper 140 (2025)
- 04Working with AI: Measuring the Applicability of Generative AI to Occupations · 2025Tomlinson, Jaffe et al., Microsoft Research (2025)
- 05GPTs are GPTs: Labor Market Impact Potential of LLMs · 2024Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin, Rock (Science, 2024)
- 06AI Occupational Exposure to Language Modeling · 2023Felten, Raj, Seamans (2023)
Common questions
- How likely is AI to replace Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters?
- Published research puts Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters at 8 out of 100 for AI displacement risk, in the lower risk band. The number is a weighted consensus of 6 research sources and describes the typical version of the role, not any individual.
- Do researchers agree on the risk for Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters?
- Broadly, yes. Individual estimates for Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters run from 5 to 14 out of 100 across the 6 sources behind this score, a fairly tight range. More recent and higher confidence studies carry more weight in the final number.
- Which manufacturing roles face similar AI exposure?
- The closest published manufacturing roles to Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters by score are Hydroelectric Plant Technicians (10/100), Plant and System Operators, All Other (10/100), and Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing (10/100). Each has its own page with the research behind its number.
Also covers
Adjuster · Assembler · Balance and Hairspring Assembler · Banking Pin Adjuster · Barrel Assembler · Barrel Bridge Assembler · Barrel Endshake Adjuster · Calibration Specialist and related titles
Estimated displacement window
The dated estimate for this role is included in the full personalised report.
Your number is not the baseline
Seniority, sector, and how much of your day is routine all shift the score. Answer a few questions and get your personal risk score free, no signup.
Get my personal scoreFree · No credit card · No signup
More manufacturing occupations
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders14/100
- Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic13/100
- Furniture Finishers12/100
- Upholsterers12/100
- Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers11/100
- Hydroelectric Plant Technicians10/100
- Plant and System Operators, All Other10/100
- Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing10/100
Informational guidance based on published research, not professional career or financial advice. Scores update as new research is ingested.