In　the　model-based　definition　design　and　manufacturing　environment,　3D　models　have　integrated　the　complete　definition　information　of　a　product.　Thus,　they　have　been　treated　as　the　single　data　source　for　design　and　manufacturing　stages　in　the　product　development　lifecycle.　Transferring　the　3D　models　to　the　assembly　station　is　crucial　for　facilitating　the　integration　of　the　design　and　manufacturing　processes　of　complex　products　and　is　full　of　challenges.　This　paper　proposes　a　framework　for　mobile　3D　assembly　process　information　(API)　construction　and　transfer　to　the　assembly　station　of　complex　products　with　the　purpose　of　providing　direct　and　unambiguous　assembly　instruction　to　assembly　operators,　hence　reducing　their　mental　burden　and　improving　the　efficiency　of　assembly　work.　Within　the　framework,　a　dynamic　assembly　simplification　method　is　investigated　to　support　the　downstream　3D　API　construction　and　transfer.　After　analysing　the　association　relationship　between　assembly　scene　elements,　an　augmented　reality　(AR)-based　method　for　3D　API　construction　and　transfer　is　presented　by　merging　the　information　of　the　assembly　scene.　The　proposed　approach　has　been　tested　on　several　test　cases,　and　the　results　indicate　that　the　improved　dynamic　assembly　simplification　method　can　search　assembly　features　more　efficiently　compared　to　the　divide-and-conquer　algorithm　and　that　the　AR-based　3D　API　intuitively　shows　the　assembly　process.