Torchora
Back to Home

tooling manager

title: 'Comprehensive Job Specification: The Role of a Tooling Manager'
salary: $95,000 - $165,000
categories: [Engineering, Manufacturing, Management, Operations, Automotive, Industrial]
description: 'A detailed job specification outlining the core responsibilities, strategic importance, required skills, and career trajectory for the role of a Tooling Manager within a modern manufacturing organization. This document defines the position's impact on product quality, operational efficiency, and financial performance.'

🎯 Role Definition

The Tooling Manager is a pivotal leadership role responsible for the entire lifecycle of an organization's tooling assets, from initial concept and design through procurement, implementation, maintenance, and eventual retirement. This individual serves as the primary technical authority and strategic planner for all tooling-related activities, including plastic injection molds, stamping dies, casting molds, and various fixtures. By leading a team of engineers and technicians, the Tooling Manager ensures that all tooling meets stringent quality standards, production schedules, and budget requirements. This role is critical for bridging the gap between product design and high-volume manufacturing, directly influencing production efficiency, cost of goods sold, and the company's ability to innovate and bring new products to market successfully.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Senior Tooling Engineer
  • Manufacturing Project Manager
  • Lead Process Engineer

Advancement To:

  • Director of Engineering
  • Plant Manager
  • Director of Operations / Manufacturing

Lateral Moves:

  • Senior Engineering Project Manager
  • Continuous Improvement Manager
  • Operations Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Oversee the entire tooling lifecycle, from providing feasibility input during the design phase (DFM/DFA) to the sourcing, fabrication, validation, and launch of new tools for production.
  • Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of tooling engineers, designers, and technicians, fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and technical excellence.
  • Develop and manage the comprehensive tooling budget, including capital expenditure (CapEx) requests for new tools and operational expenditure (OpEx) for maintenance, repairs, and modifications.
  • Direct all project management activities for new tool builds, ensuring projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the specified quality standards by closely tracking milestones and deliverables.
  • Establish and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with a global network of external tool suppliers and vendors, leading negotiation of contracts, pricing, and delivery terms.
  • Conduct rigorous qualification and auditing of potential and existing tool shops to ensure they meet the company's technical capabilities, quality control, and capacity requirements.
  • Drive the development and implementation of a proactive and preventative maintenance strategy for all production tooling to maximize uptime, extend tool life, and minimize unplanned downtime.
  • Champion continuous improvement initiatives within the tooling department, utilizing methodologies like Lean, Six Sigma, and Kaizen to enhance tool performance, reduce cycle times, and lower scrap rates.
  • Serve as the primary technical expert for troubleshooting complex tooling and molding/stamping process issues, providing hands-on support to the production floor to resolve urgent problems.
  • Ensure all tooling, equipment, and departmental processes adhere to company safety standards and regulatory compliance requirements (e.g., OSHA).
  • Manage the engineering change notice (ECN) process for all tooling modifications, ensuring changes are properly documented, validated, and implemented with minimal disruption to production.
  • Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including Product Design, Quality Assurance, and Production, to ensure seamless integration of tooling into new product introduction (NPI) programs.
  • Develop detailed tooling specifications and standards that guide the design, construction, and acceptance criteria for all new tooling assets acquired by the company.
  • Maintain a comprehensive database and tracking system for all tooling assets, monitoring location, condition, maintenance history, and performance metrics.
  • Evaluate and recommend new tooling technologies, materials, and manufacturing processes to enhance efficiency, improve part quality, and maintain a competitive advantage.
  • Prepare and present regular, detailed reports to senior management on tooling project status, departmental performance, budget adherence, and key performance indicators (KPIs).

Secondary Functions

  • Support the Quality department during root cause analysis activities related to part defects or dimensional non-conformance that may be linked to tooling.
  • Participate in strategic planning sessions to provide critical input on manufacturing capabilities and future capital investment needs related to tooling and equipment.
  • Contribute to Design for Manufacturability (DFM) reviews, providing expert feedback to product development teams to optimize part designs for robust and cost-effective tooling.
  • Actively benchmark industry best practices and emerging technologies in tool design, fabrication, and maintenance to drive innovation within the organization.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Tooling Design & Manufacturing Expertise: Deep, hands-on knowledge of tool design principles and fabrication methods for plastic injection molding, metal stamping, die casting, and/or extrusion.
  • GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing): Advanced proficiency in reading and interpreting complex engineering drawings and applying GD&T principles to tool design and part inspection.
  • CAD/CAM Software: Strong familiarity with 3D CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks, CATIA, NX) for tool design review and analysis.
  • Project Management: Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex tooling projects simultaneously, using formal project management tools and methodologies (e.g., MS Project, Gantt charts).
  • Materials Science: Solid understanding of tool steels, alloys, surface coatings, and plastic resins or sheet metals and their behavior in manufacturing processes.
  • Process Knowledge: Expertise in related manufacturing processes (e.g., injection molding, stamping), including process parameter optimization and troubleshooting.
  • Financial Acumen: Skill in developing and managing departmental budgets, calculating ROI, and preparing capital expenditure justifications.
  • Supplier Management & Negotiation: Proven experience in sourcing, qualifying, and managing global tooling vendors, including contract and price negotiation.

Soft Skills

  • Leadership & Mentorship: The ability to lead, inspire, and develop a technical team, delegating tasks effectively and fostering professional growth.
  • Problem-Solving: Exceptional analytical and systematic problem-solving skills to diagnose and resolve complex technical issues under pressure.
  • Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical information clearly to diverse audiences, from shop-floor technicians to executive leadership.
  • Strategic Thinking: The capacity to think beyond immediate tasks and contribute to the long-term strategic direction of manufacturing operations.
  • Collaboration: A highly collaborative mindset, able to build strong working relationships with internal departments and external partners.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's Degree in a relevant technical field.

Preferred Education:

  • Master's Degree (e.g., MBA, M.S. in Engineering) or a Journeyman Tool & Die Maker certification combined with a Bachelor's degree.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Manufacturing Engineering
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Plastics Engineering Technology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 8-15 years of progressive experience within a tooling engineering or manufacturing environment, demonstrating increased responsibility over time.

Preferred:

  • A minimum of 4-5 years of direct supervisory or management experience, leading a team of engineers, designers, or technicians. Proven track record of managing new tool procurement projects from start to finish.
Explore More Careers