Overhead joist assembly systems and methods

A joist assembly system, comprising:

• a support structure;
• a plurality of material handling systems configured move one or more chords or one or more webs of a joist;
• a plurality of welding systems configured to weld the one or more webs to the one or more chords;
• a rigging table system configured to support at least a portion of the joists during assembly;
• an overhead transport system coupled to the support structure, wherein the plurality of material handling systems or the plurality of welding systems are coupled to the overhead transport system at least partially above the rigging table system, and wherein the overhead transport system transports the plurality of material handling systems or the plurality of welding systems longitudinally and laterally with respect to the rigging table system;
• and
• a controller system comprising:
• one or more memory components storing computer-readable code;
• and
• one or more processing components coupled to the one or more memory components, wherein when executed the computer-readable code is configured to cause the one or more processing components to:
• communicate with the plurality of material handling systems to position the one or more webs with respect to the one or more chords;
• and
• communicate with the plurality of welding systems to weld the one or more webs to the one or more chords.