Technical Training and Development Manager
Job Summary
The Hands‑On Heading & Thread‑Rolling Trainer & Development Coordinator develops, evaluates, and advances cold heading and thread‑rolling capability across the organization. This role delivers structured, hands‑on training in safety, heading and thread‑rolling fundamentals, and standard work; evaluates operator skill using objective observational tools; maintains a current capability matrix; and partners with Manufacturing and Process Engineering to close skill gaps impacting safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
This is a shop‑floor–based, hands‑on role focused on building sustainable technical capability and workforce readiness in fastener manufacturing operations.
Key Responsibilities
Training & Curriculum Development
- Develop and deliver structured, hands‑on training specific to heading and thread‑rolling operations, including:
- Safety fundamentals and safe work practices for high‑speed forming and rolling equipment
- Cold heading fundamentals (wire preparation, cut‑off, die setup, punch alignment, part flow)
- Thread‑rolling fundamentals (die types, setup, roll pressure, lead control, gaging, defect detection)
- Tooling handling, changeover discipline, and setup standard work
- Create and maintain training curricula, job breakdown sheets, and role‑based learning paths by machine, process, and skill level.
- Ensure all training content aligns with safety, quality, tooling, and operational standards.
Skill Evaluation & Capability Management
- Evaluate operator skill using standardized observational rater tools, hands‑on demonstrations, and defined performance criteria for heading and thread‑rolling.
- Conduct structured shop‑floor observations assessing:
- Safe operation of heading and rolling machines
- Setup accuracy, tooling control, and process stability
- Adherence to standard work, inspection plans, and gaging practices
- Maintain an accurate, up‑to‑update capability / skills matrix by machine type, process, and proficiency level.
- Ensure skill assessments are objective, consistent, documented, and repeatable across shifts and departments.
Talent Development & Individual Development Planning
- Analyze evaluation results to identify skill gaps in setup quality, process control, tooling usage, and inspection.
- Develop individual development plans (IDPs) to advance operator capability from basic operation through advanced setup and troubleshooting.
- Coach operators through guided practice and feedback—without taking over the work—to build ownership, confidence, and technical independence.
- Partner with supervisors to reinforce development actions and ensure skills are applied consistently in daily production.
Collaboration & Continuous Improvement
- Partner with Manufacturing and Manufacturing / Process Engineering to:
- Identify heading and thread‑rolling skill gaps impacting scrap, downtime, safety events, or delivery risk
- Support process improvements through targeted training, setup discipline, and coaching
- Update standard work, training materials, and best practices based on shop‑floor observation and performance data
Hiring & Candidate Evaluation
- Participate in heading and thread‑rolling operator candidate evaluations.
- Use hands‑on assessments and observational rater tools to validate setup, tooling awareness, inspection, and troubleshooting capability.
- Provide objective input on technical readiness and near‑term development needs.
Required Skills & Competencies
Technical Communication (Heading & Thread Rolling)
- Explains forming and rolling concepts in practical, shop‑floor language
- Communicates setting up corrections, quality risk, and tooling issues clearly and directly
- Adjusts approach based on operator experience and skill level
Organized & Planful Execution
- Plans training, evaluations, and development activities around production schedules
- Maintains accurate training records, evaluations, and capability matrices
- Balances training with operational and uptime priorities
Professional, Trust‑Based Presence
- Buils credibility through fairness, technical competence, and consistency
- Demonstrates respect for operators at all experience levels
- Creates a disciplined, positive learning environment on the shop floor
Coaching & Development Mindset
- Focuses on building long‑term heading and thread‑rolling capability
- Coaches without doing the work for operators
- Reinforces process discipline, quality ownership, and safe decision‑making
Consistency & Objectivity
- Applies the same technical and safety standards across shifts and machines
- Ensures skill assessments are fair, defensible, and repeatable
Qualifications
Required
- Advanced, hands‑on experience in cold heading and/or thread‑rolling operations
- Strong knowledge of heading and thread‑rolling fundamentals, tooling, setups, and inspection
- Experience training, coaching, or mentoring heading or thread‑rolling operators
- Ability to objectively assess hands‑on setup quality and process execution
- Comfortable working in a high‑speed fastener manufacturing environment
PREFERRED
- Experience with multi‑die or progressive cold heading machines
- Experience with flat‑die and cylindrical thread‑rolling equipment
- Familiarity with gaging systems, defect analysis, and containment practices
- Experience using skills matrices or structured qualification systems
- Experience partnering with tooling, manufacturing, or process engineering teams
Work Environment
Primarily shop‑floor based in a fastener manufacturing environment
Frequent hands‑on interaction with heading and thread‑rolling equipment
Required PPE per site safety standards