tool and die maker

repair technician

maintenance technician

group leader

technician

Metalsa

WARNING!! This company use to be DANA (sold out to Matalsa in 2007 after continually losing capital and clientel. Metalsa is a Mexico based corporate, partnered with Proeza). Most of the management came off the production floor (titled as engineers and Cordinators, Facilitators etc) with life learned education's. Obliveous of the fact of today's technology and techniques to improve safety, production and reliability in machine presses. The mentality here is "its always worked before" or "Ive been here 25 yrs and never had to do it". A difficult "Good Ole Boy" mentality and if you show any superiority in your applied field, you will be thrown under the bus and walked out the plant because of someone losing the "Wonder Boy" awards. PRESS BAY is the biggest problem in the plant and most important. This explains the hazards of outdated and unstable safety devices and controls, a nice coat of die lube and hydraulic oil covers the entire plant floor that uses steel floor plates, Constant Fires in the bag collectors for the weld gas exhaust, MAINTENANCE FIGHT THE FIRES. This company has no problem handing out management titles with entirely different job duties and description. I was hired as a Controls Engineer and forced to perform maintenance tasks on mechanical equipment up to 14hrs a day mandatory WEEKENDS with management salary of Exempt status meaning NO OT COMP after the mandatory 50hrs. I was corrected twice on Lock out Tag out procedures for using the wrong color, non company issued locks.. Engineering manager fires me 30 days after hire date (not to forget working the Christmas holidays the rest were off paid or paid double time to be there) for not doing my maintenance tech job and continuing with logic evaluations, networking issues and safety audits on problematic machinery...  The plant STILL didnt have my Company Locks.

 I was Fired for not performing maintenance on energized and stored energy multi ton steel form, stamping and transfer presses without the means to lock out. These "Engineers" guess more than Ive seen since my First years of electrical theory and principles. The PRESS BAY is bottom line, pieced together and LIFE AND LIMB safety hazards are EVERY WHERE. Good luck if you want to join the "Team". I was so disappointed, I won't ever pursue a position in Hopkinsville Ky anymore.

Exceptional Employee Experience at Metalsa:
My experience with Metalsa has been exceptional. From the comprehensive benefits package to the opportunities for career advancement, Metalsa truly prioritizes the well-being and growth of its employees.
One of the standout aspects of working at Metalsa is the robust benefits package. The company offers a matching 401k, health, dental, and vision insurance, which provides peace of mind and security for employees and their families. This commitment to employee welfare goes beyond just the basics; it reflects Metalsa's dedication to ensuring each team member feels valued and supported.

In addition to the outstanding benefits, Metalsa also offers ample opportunities for professional development and career advancement. As a group leader, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing numerous colleagues progress within the company. Moreover, I was fortunate to be part of a pilot program aimed at promoting group leaders to take on additional responsibilities such as training, development, compliance, abnormality management, and problem-solving. The training and support provided during this program were exceptional, demonstrating Metalsa’s investment in cultivating leadership talent from within. This emphasis on career growth and the support provided can truly ignite your ambition and motivation.

One particular initiative that underscores Metalsa's commitment to lifelong learning is its tuition reimbursement program. This program encourages employees to pursue further education and demonstrates Metalsa's belief in investing in its workforce's growth and development. By supporting employees in advancing their skills and knowledge, Metalsa benefits as a company and fosters a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

Overall, my experience at Metalsa has been nothing short of rewarding. The combination of excellent benefits, opportunities for advancement, and a supportive work environment makes it a standout employer in the industry. I am not just proud but deeply satisfied to be part of a company that values its employees and actively invests in their success. If you’re considering a career at Metalsa, I highly recommend it – you won’t be disappointed.

. When I first started we had great management.  They communicated with us perfectly. We were working 12 hours a day 7 days a week and most holidays but we knew and understood why we were working the way we were.  Management truly cared about their employees and tried their best to get us time off. We were bought lunch several times, good lunch not McDonald's. Cattered BBQ from local restaurants,  given t-shirts and jackets  Fast forward a couple years and overtime starts to calm down. We had accomplished what we needed to and had another excellent cattered lunch and given more shirts that highlighted our accomplishments as a team. Shortly after the lead management had not surprisingly moved up through promotion and another group of management brought in.  It wasn't long before we had lost our Q1 status, were back to working crazy hours only this time next to ZERO communication from management. We found out most of what was going on through rumors and it was not until those rumors made it back to management and had stirred up chaos that we were told anything. No more company lunches, t-shirts. No sign of any sort of appreciation at all from anyone in management.  Moral was completely gone and that is where it's at today. I would've retired from there if not for making a career ending mistake and going over attendance points.  That's another thing. To them you are and always will be just a number that's easily replaceable by the next guy or gal looking for a job. You could be there 2 months or 20 years if you go over your points which is not hard to do given the hours you will work you're gone and back to looking for another job like i am.  

Metalsa provides an easy and simple work environment, offering no-complicated work whatsoever. 
This company also provides a union,
A friendly welcoming orientation,
The ability to transfer between departments.
The privilege to work at any chosen spot if not occupied by anyone else, (a majority of times, there will always be an opening spot for you to work at no matter where at.)
They provide a selective cafeteria
And offer 50 cent coffee.
You are also given the opportunity to increase your salary if you've worked there for
6 months exactly. By filling out paperwork that allows you to request another job position at metalsa. 
NOTICE: It Does Not Guarantee That YOU Will Get That Position, although you can still request a higher paying job position through paperwork if you'd like.
The expectations for some job positions though, are different from your original job position.
You may be expected to concentrate more, and you may have much more responsibility to uphold.
So please be mindful when or if you agree to start a new role in your career. Other than that, it isn't a hard place to work at. And if you are looking for a 
good paying, easy job with 
0 experience, then this Is the job for you.

this is third attempt to leave a review. have never cursed or left vulgar innuendos. if you are a skilled tradesman, look away. run away. Management full of people who are self taught and became supervisors because of hire from within policy. Lee Iaccoca put it best, "they promote to a level of incompetence". if you never read his book, they promote locals until they realize they cannot perform the job they were promoted to, then leave them there. If you carry 20 years of experience in die making then you have twice the experience (self taught) than ALL your supervisors, combined. If Ford knew how their equipment was being treated then this work would go to china, in a shoe factory, run by 8 year old children, and be seen as an improvement. High turnover rate in trades in an area with no educational infrastructure for trades. Experienced opinions are treated as heretic babble. no pm programs, dies not run on bottom, use of hydraulic jacks and prybars on floor to open dies due to stacking in storage. no time to fix problems, only enough time to work on them over and over.lastly, 4th year apprentices cannot properly setup or run mills, grinders or lathes....and 1st shift supervisor in tool room helped apprentice to mill a v-block on a table with vice T.I.R. of .014 over 8 inches.....nuff said......i stop at this. if you work the trade you know these problems. consider yourself warned. that is if they allow this review either.....

What is the best part of working at the company?
After 90 days they give you 40 hours of paid time off, you can use one hour at a time if necessary. Metalsa is a unionized company. If you choose to be a union member, then you have the union in your corner. The insurance is anthem BC/BS. ITS AMAZING! It's affordable ! Your raises happen Automatically, every six months. They give you 6 points every 6months. Half a day is only half a point. There's extra "heat breaks" when it's hot outside. You get a yearly bonus of 1000.00 or more in MARCH.  At Christmas they give a 50$ gift card for Kroger to buy Christmas dinner. Every summer they have a location that's chose by a vote where we can take our family to a picnic. Last year it was Santa clause Indiana. This year it's beach bend. And they pay for all your admission. You can take your kids and grandkids. Usually on the weekends when your working over time they buy pizza at lunch break. There's a lot of good things about metalsa. They have tuition reimbursement should you choose to go to college.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
If you are in recovery , some time you have to look past all the bad behavior of others. That can be frustrating!

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The back shift is pretty laid back.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
I clock in go to the office do my work and go home.

The schedule here is normally 3 days and every other Saturday. We do have shutdowns that occur during the week. You can volunteer for all the overtime that you want. Most nights aren't really the bad. The good nights definitely outweigh the bad. There are a few maintenance techs that skate and won't help you do your job, honestly don't expect anything from them and you won't be disappointed. Having said that, the majority will help teach and work with you, cause the end goal is making sure the plant runs. There is somewhat a broken relationship between maintenance and production though. Most operators will try to help you overcome problems, however there are a few that don't care if they're machines run. They have the mentality that they get a break/extended break if their machine breaks, even to potentially "sabotage" their machine, knowing that the union will protect them. This job is union btw. They do a pretty good job at taking care of the employees when it comes to employee/supervisor quarrels. The problems arise when you have too many chiefs. Supervisors here will hang you out to dry so that they can get their pat on the back. Some of the supervisors also don't know how the machines work, and lack the tact to communicate.   

So a typical day at work is getting constantly badgered and being told that you’re not good enough or the work that you’re doing isn’t good enough or that you’re slacking in your work ethic and that they don’t see you in their company value so on and so forth. I didn’t learn much of anything except that you can’t trust anyone there they will backstab you. They will do anything they can to get promotions. The management style is poor everybody on the floor thinks that management is a joke. They will backstab you and treat you like you’re a lower being than they are. With workplace culture it shot. Everybody tries something different in the same area and gets the same results and then wonders why things are terrible. The morale there is just tore apart. And the ones that get it the worst are the specialized teams like Tooling and Maintenance. The hardest part of the job is to keep your head down even when you’re being talked to you like you’re not worth anything. The most enjoyable part of the job are the people you work with you boost the morale in your area just to make things easier and make it to where people want to be at work.

So they no longer are doing direct hire, which is understandable to a certain degree. However very frustrating knowing the work keys scores I got alone could easily get me to a better place. The temporary position let’s be honest is frustrating, payed $4 less than a full time employee and there are people who have been temps for up to a year and half whenever It’s promised only 6 months to full time. Currently riding it out for 6 months and if I don’t get it I’ll walk out the door the same day. Not a lot of transparency either whenever it comes down to it for the full hiring process. You can be a temp in one location but get moved to another for full time, basically don’t get used to where you’re at. As a temp you’re only allowed 2 unexcused and 2 excused days off, that doesn’t sound bad until you realize that you may be a temp for 8-9 months not the 6 or possible 12. and a message for management. BRING BACK DIRECT HIRE, use the work keys and understand you may not get the 150 people but you’re less likely to lose the 300. 

What is the best part of working at the company?
The best part of this job is the Pay rate and benefits. There are always free meals catered for staff for holidays, safety milestones and other quotas being met.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The most stressful are unpredictable  hours. There are unforseen layoffs,  work shortage during certain months.  Other months there can be numerous overtime. Although there are fans, the factory does get very hot during the summer months. Must meet quota for the night before you can leave.  This is not bad if machines run accordingly, but breakdowns can cause long weary days.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Work environment is usually well between employees. Everyone usually works together to help one another. Sometimes management has a lack of communication with staff. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
A typical day is being assigned to a particular station, and then you are responsible for the production and quota of that particular part. Must make sure quality, safety and speed go hand in hand until shift is over.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Tool and die maker 10 salaries reported	$38.07 per hour
Repair technician 2 salaries reported	$33.73 per hour
Maintenance technician 5 salaries reported	$37.02 per hour
Group leader 10 salaries reported	$77,250 per year
Technician 1 salary reported	$29.00 per hour

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