assembly line
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assembly line
A technical system in industrial production in which a workpiece is transported on a moving belt from one workstation to the next. At each workstation, a specific work step is carried out.
In dieser Fabrik werden die Autos am Fließband montiert.
In this factory, the cars are assembled on the assembly line.
The word is a combination of the verb 'fließen' (to flow) and the noun 'das Band' (belt). So it literally describes a belt on which the work 'flows' from one station to the next.
Die fertigen Produkte laufen am Ende vom Fließband.
The finished products come off the assembly line at the end.
In the literal meaning, the preposition 'am' is almost always used to describe the workplace. Typical verbs are 'arbeiten' (to work), 'stehen' (to stand), or 'produzieren' (to produce).
Mein Onkel hat 30 Jahre lang am Fließband bei einem großen Autohersteller gearbeitet.
My uncle worked on the assembly line at a large car manufacturer for 30 years.
The expression 'am Fließband' (nonstop / on an assembly line) is often used figuratively. It then works like an adverb and means that something happens in large quantities and without interruption.
Unsere Marketingabteilung produziert neue Ideen am Fließband.
Our marketing department produces new ideas nonstop.
You can recognize the figurative meaning by the fact that it is combined with abstract things (e.g., jokes, mistakes, compliments), not with physical products in a factory.
Der neue Praktikant macht am Fließband Fehler.
The new intern makes mistakes nonstop.
ribbon / band
'das Band' and 'das Fließband' can both refer to a technical system that moves things along. Here, 'Band' is more general, for example in 'Gepäckband' (baggage belt) at the airport or 'Transportband' (conveyor belt). 'Fließband' is used mainly in production, when a product moves from one workstation to the next and is worked on step by step. Learners may confuse the words because a 'Fließband' is also a moving belt. When it is generally about transport, 'Band' or 'Transportband' is often enough. When it is about industrial work in fixed steps, 'Fließband' is more precise.
In der Fabrik stehen die Mitarbeiter am Fließband und bauen kleine Teile ein.
In the factory, the employees stand at the assembly line and install small parts.
Am Flughafen wartet Luisa lange, bis ihr Koffer auf dem Band liegt.
At the airport, Luisa waits a long time until her suitcase appears on the belt.