PURPOSE: To improve the reliability of the insertion of an electronic component and reduce the cost of an inserter by a method wherein the insertion hole of the electronic component is directly defined and a board is aligned and held by vacuum attraction.

CONSTITUTION: An inserter is constituted by a needle type defining pin 1, a pneumatic cylinder 2 which holds the needle type defining pin 1 and moves it vertically, a jig 3 which has a pin corresponding to the alignment hole of a board and having an allowance so as to make the board move within a very small range and further has a hole with which the lower surface of the board can be attracted and fixed when the board is put on the jig 3, the board 4, a rotary table 5, an index unit 6 for driving the rotary table 5, a valve 7 turning the vacuum attraction on and off, a pneumatic cylinder 8 for switching the valve 7 and a rotary joint 9. The pneumatic cylinder 2 is operated to make the needle type defining pin 1 descend linearly and pierce through the hole of the board 4 placed on the jig 3 temporarily so as to be moved within the very small range. As a result, the board 4 can be aligned with the electronic component insertion hole as a reference.