Description:
POSITION SUMMARY
The Tool Room Manager is responsible for leading all tool room operations across Madison-Kipp Corporation's die casting and machining facilities. This role oversees the maintenance, repair, modification, and continuous improvement of dies, molds, tooling, fixtures, and related equipment to ensure safe, efficient, and uninterrupted production. The Tool Room Manager leads a team of Tool & Die Makers, Die Repair Technicians, and support personnel while partnering closely with Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, and Production teams to maximize uptime, improve tooling performance, and reduce manufacturing costs.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Lead and manage daily tool room operations to support production requirements across multiple facilities.
- Supervise, coach, develop, and evaluate Tool & Die Makers, Die Repair Technicians, and Tool Room personnel.
- Establish priorities and schedules for die maintenance, repairs, preventative maintenance, and tooling improvements.
- Ensure tooling is available, maintained, and performing at required production standards.
- Coordinate emergency tooling repairs to minimize production downtime.
- Develop and implement preventative maintenance programs for dies, molds, fixtures, and tooling.
- Monitor tooling performance metrics and identify opportunities to improve die life, reduce scrap, and increase uptime.
- Partner with Engineering and Operations teams on tooling design improvements and process optimization initiatives.
- Support new product launches, tooling transfers, and production ramp-ups.
- Manage tooling inventories, spare components, consumables, and repair parts.
- Oversee outside tooling vendors and repair suppliers as required.
- Maintain tooling documentation, repair histories, and preventative maintenance records.
- Ensure compliance with all safety, environmental, and quality standards.
- Develop departmental budgets and manage expenditures within approved guidelines.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives utilizing Lean Manufacturing and root cause analysis methodologies.
- Participate in capital equipment and tooling investment planning.
- Lead, motivate, and develop a high-performing tool room team.
- Identify training and development opportunities for team members.
- Support succession planning and workforce development initiatives.
- Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.
- Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Heavy Manufacturing Environment. MKC houses different machinery, equipment, processes, and chemicals which produce potential hazards in the work environment such as: ergonomic, chemical, machine point of operation, and powered industrial vehicle traffic. These hazards are controlled through means of engineering controls, such as machine guarding, and administrative controls, such as safety policies and programs. The noise level in the work environment is moderate to noisy. In certain areas of the facility, employees are required to wear Personal Protective Equipment such as Hearing Protection, Safety Glasses, Safety Toe Shoes, and hand protection.
Requirements:
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and listen; and use hands to manipulate objects or controls. The employee is regularly required to stand, stoop, bend, or reach above the shoulders. The employee must be able to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Must be able to regularly walk throughout all the manufacturing facilities.
QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
Appropriate education and/or experience may be substituted on an equivalent basis.
- Associate degree in Tool & Die, Manufacturing Technology, Engineering Technology, or related field preferred.
- Journeyman Tool & Die certification strongly preferred.
- Minimum 7 years of Tool & Die, Die Repair, or Tool Room experience in a manufacturing environment.
- Minimum 3 years of leadership or supervisory experience.
- Experience supporting high-volume die casting, machining, automotive, or industrial manufacturing operations preferred.
- Experience with aluminum die casting tooling strongly preferred.
LANGUAGE SKILLS
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Ability to read, write, and understand English.
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Proficient written and verbal communication skills.
JOB SKILLS
- Strong understanding of die casting dies, molds, fixtures, tooling systems, and preventative maintenance practices.
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, blueprints, and CAD models.
- Knowledge of machining processes including CNC milling, turning, EDM, grinding, and welding.
- Strong troubleshooting and root cause analysis skills.
- Excellent organizational and project management abilities.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and computerized maintenance or tooling management systems.
- Strong communication and leadership skills.
- Ability to prioritize multiple projects and respond effectively to changing production demands.
TRAVEL REQUIREMENT
- Must be able to regularly travel between facilities in Madison WI and Sun Prairie WI.
