Tool and Die Mold Maker

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Study specifications such as blueprints, sketches, models, or descriptions, and visualize products to determine materials required and machines to be used.
• Compute dimensions, plan layouts, and determine assembly methods and sequences of operations.
• Measure, mark, and scribe metal stock for machining.
• Set up and operate machine tools such as lathes, milling machines and grinders to machine parts, and verify conformance to specifications.
• Perform critical bench and assembly operations to fit, align, calibrate, adjust, assemble, and finish tooling, molds, and fixtures.
• Fabricate, repair, modify, and improve dies, molds, jigs, fixtures, and tooling to support production requirements.
• Troubleshoot production equipment and tooling issues, including diagnosing mechanical problems, making adjustments, and supporting corrective actions to minimize downtime.
• Provide production-floor support, responding to equipment, tooling, and process-related issues to maintain quality and throughput.
• Create tooling and fixturing to support Manufacturing Engineering and automated or semi-automated production processes.
• Perform development and experimental work as required to support continuous improvement initiatives.
• Examine existing dies, tools, jigs, fixtures, and production equipment, and recommend design or functional improvements.
• May occasionally act as lead on tooling or mold-making projects, assigning work to Tool Room associates and coordinating specialized machining and bench operations.
• Monitor, train, and support apprentices in specialized phases of work and report progress to the Tool Room Supervisor.
• Maintain machines, tooling, and equipment in accordance with proper operating and maintenance procedures.
• Develop specifications from general descriptions for specialty tools and prepare sketches or drawings as required.

Education and/or Experience

• One-year certificate from college or technical school;
• or three to six months related experience and/or training;
• or equivalent combination of education and experience in addition to Journeyperson designation.