Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Tooling Supervisor

🎯 Role Definition

The Tooling Supervisor is the hands-on leader and technical anchor of the tool room. This individual is not just a manager but a mentor and a master problem-solver, responsible for the entire lifecycle of our production tooling—from initial design review to end-of-life. The heart of this role lies in ensuring that our molds, dies, and fixtures are always in prime condition to meet demanding production schedules and stringent quality standards. This person acts as the crucial link between engineering, production, and maintenance, safeguarding the company's most critical manufacturing assets and directly impacting our operational efficiency and product excellence.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Senior Tool & Die Maker
Lead Mold Technician
Manufacturing or Process Engineer with a strong tooling focus

Advancement To:

Tooling Manager
Maintenance & Engineering Manager
Operations Manager

Lateral Moves:

Process Engineer
Project Manager (New Product Introduction)
Quality Engineer

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Directly supervise, mentor, and develop a dedicated team of toolmakers, machinists, and technicians, managing daily work assignments, performance reviews, and skills training to foster a high-performance culture.
Champion a "safety-first" environment within the tool room, ensuring all team members adhere to established safety protocols, use personal protective equipment (PPE), and maintain excellent housekeeping (5S) standards.
Develop, implement, and rigorously manage a comprehensive preventive and predictive maintenance program for all production molds, dies, and related tooling to maximize uptime and extend asset life.
Prioritize and schedule all tooling repairs, modifications, and changeovers to align with dynamic production schedules, minimizing downtime and communicating status updates effectively to production leadership.
Act as the primary technical expert for troubleshooting complex tooling issues on the production floor, performing root cause analysis and implementing robust corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
Manage the tool room budget, including tracking spending, forecasting needs, and identifying cost-saving opportunities without compromising quality or safety.
Oversee the inventory of spare parts, tooling components, and shop supplies, establishing optimal stock levels and managing procurement to ensure critical items are always available.
Maintain meticulous and accurate records of all tool maintenance, repairs, modifications, and performance history using our Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS).
Collaborate closely with the Engineering and Quality departments on the design review process for new tools, providing critical feedback on design for manufacturability (DFM) and maintainability.
Lead continuous improvement initiatives (Kaizen, SMED) within the tool room to enhance efficiency, reduce changeover times, and improve repair processes.
Coordinate and manage external tooling vendors for new tool builds, major repairs, or specialized services, ensuring work meets company specifications, budget, and timeline.
Ensure all tools returning to production are validated and in perfect operational condition, meeting all dimensional and quality specifications.
Provide ongoing technical guidance and hands-on training to the tooling team on new techniques, equipment, and repair methodologies.
Conduct regular audits of tooling conditions and tool room processes to ensure compliance with internal standards and identify areas for improvement.

Secondary Functions

Support engineering teams during new product introduction (NPI) phases by ensuring tooling readiness and providing expert input during initial production runs.
Analyze tool performance data to identify trends, predict failures, and make data-driven recommendations for tooling replacements or strategic upgrades.
Participate actively in cross-functional team meetings to represent the tooling department and provide critical updates on tool status and capabilities.
Develop and document standard operating procedures (SOPs) for all key tool room activities, including repairs, maintenance, and changeovers.
Assist in the evaluation and acquisition of new tool room equipment, such as CNC machines, welders, or measurement devices, by preparing justifications and technical specifications.
Liaise with the production planning team to create a seamless tooling changeover schedule that optimizes labor and minimizes disruption to manufacturing operations.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Journeyman Tool & Die Maker Status: Formal apprenticeship or equivalent certification demonstrating mastery of toolmaking principles and practices.
Process-Specific Knowledge: Deep, hands-on understanding of injection molding, die casting, or metal stamping processes and how tooling design impacts part quality.
Blueprint & GD&T Proficiency: The ability to read, interpret, and analyze complex engineering drawings, including a strong command of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T).
Metrology & Inspection: Skilled in using a wide range of precision measurement tools, including calipers, micrometers, height gauges, and CMM/vision systems, to validate tool and part dimensions.
CAD/CAM Software: Familiarity with viewing and analyzing tool designs in CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks, AutoCAD, UG/NX) is highly valuable.
CMMS/ERP Systems: Experience using maintenance management or enterprise resource planning software to track work orders, inventory, and asset history.
Welding & Machining: Practical knowledge of tool steel welding (TIG) and operation of manual and CNC tool room equipment (mills, lathes, grinders).

Soft Skills

Leadership & Mentorship: A natural ability to lead, inspire, and develop a technical team, fostering a collaborative and accountable work environment.
Systematic Problem-Solving: A logical and methodical approach to troubleshooting, capable of diagnosing complex issues under pressure and implementing effective, lasting solutions.
Clear Communication: The ability to articulate complex technical information clearly and concisely to diverse audiences, from shop-floor technicians to senior management.
Project & Time Management: Excellent organizational skills with the capacity to manage multiple competing priorities, projects, and deadlines in a fast-paced setting.
Continuous Improvement Mindset: A proactive and curious nature, constantly seeking out opportunities to improve processes, reduce waste, and enhance efficiency.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High School Diploma or GED coupled with a State-Certified Journeyman Tool & Die Maker card or a successfully completed, accredited toolmaking apprenticeship program.

Preferred Education:

Associate's or Bachelor's Degree in a technical discipline.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Mechanical Engineering / Engineering Technology
Industrial Technology or Manufacturing

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

7+ years of progressive, hands-on experience in a tool and die shop or production tool room, with a minimum of 3 years serving in a supervisory or lead technician capacity.

Preferred:

Experience within a high-volume, precision manufacturing environment such as automotive, medical device, aerospace, or consumer electronics. A strong track record of implementing and sustaining lean manufacturing principles (5S, SMED, TPM) within a tooling department is highly desirable.