There was an argument recently between a relatively new shop employee and the owner that got a bit heated. the employee (who is a girl if anyone cares about that at all) was voicing her concerns about mistakes in the shop, general stuff, and somehow they got into a...lively discussion about how she was not a builder, shes an assembler. She didn't like that at all.

To clarify we are a residential shop that is mid to high end custom and all our parts are cut on a CNC. Dado construction, so most of the time our "builders" are putting together Legos essentially. Very paint by numbers.

The owner says back in his day you could hand a builder a drawing of a cabinet and they would do the whole damn thing themselves, figure out all the cut-listing and what not, and that the builders now can't.

I would say "She" is a cabinet assembler / builder, but in my old school book they are not cabinet makers only builders / assemblers.

My point of view, does she assemble parts only or help figure out what is getting made,get the materials, break them down and do and joinery needed. Then it would be a builder.

The owner should be offering the opportunity to make all his employees builders if that is what he likes.

Most owners want to think they employ builders, but want to pay for assemblers. Assemblers might be replaced by robots. Builders will be replaced by AI computers.

I wouldn't use the word builder in a workshop. Builders are the guys who build houses. They are typically an experienced carpenter who GC's a house. In the shop you've got the designers, cabinetmakers(who actual make stuff), assemblers, and the finish guys.

I think we are splitting hairs, using the words builder / assembler..

Either you are a full fledged cabinet maker or you put them together that is not the same thing.