Metal Stamping Die Setup & Automation Technician

Reports to: Production Supervisor

A day in this role

You arrive to a production line that’s ready for your expertise. You begin by reviewing the production schedule with Supervision to ensure today’s plan aligns with customer demand and inventory goals. You verify safety protocols, inspect the line, and confirm the automated press system, feed lines, and dies are set with the correct part programs and parameters. With quality at the forefront, you run pre-production checks to validate die setup, measure sample pieces against fixtures/templates, and confirm all process indicators are in spec.

As production runs, you monitor equipment health, keep documentation current, and respond quickly to issues—troubleshooting mechanical problems, correcting process variances, and initiating work orders when dies require triage or die shop repair. You’re the go-to for changeovers, building and maintaining shims for blank and form dies, organizing die racks and mounting plates, and repairing broken punches or die sections either in-press or in the die shop.

Throughout the shift, you audit compliance with standard work and process control plans, coach team members, and, in the absence of Supervision, audit other operators’ production entries. You help cross-train the team, review unplanned scrap with employees and Supervision to find root causes, and implement countermeasures. You champion Quick and Easy Kaizen by actively soliciting and implementing improvement ideas. Material needs? You handle them safely with forklifts, pallet jacks, or the overhead crane, always adhering to OSHA and internal safety standards.

Core responsibilities

• Set up, change, change over, and operate automated press lines per production specifications.
• Pre-inspect and continuously monitor equipment; verify proper operation via process parameters and indicators.
• Program and set parameters for metal stamping presses, feed lines, and dies following company standards.
• Perform quality checks to validate die setup prior to production runs.
• Initiate work orders for dies going to the triage rack or die shop for repair.
• Make and maintain shims for blank and form dies; organize die racks and mounting plates.
• Repair broken punches or die sections in the press or die shop.
• Examine workpieces for defects; use fixtures/templates to ensure specification conformance.
• Accurately report production quantities and labor details per recording processes.
• Troubleshoot mechanical issues; identify causes of errors, problems, and defects.
• Maintain production documents and logs for accuracy and availability.
• Review production scheduling with Supervision to align activity with demand and inventory targets.
• Ensure team members have the right tools, equipment, and materials.
• Monitor and audit production activity to ensure safety and quality procedures are followed.
• Audit compliance to standard work and process control plans to ensure good parts.
• Audit production entries of other operators when Supervision is absent.
• Assist Supervision with cross-training and employee development.
• Review unplanned scrap with employees and Supervision; drive root cause and countermeasures.
• Champion Quick and Easy Kaizen; solicit and implement product/process improvements.
• Operate forklifts, pallet jacks, and overhead cranes to move raw materials and parts.
• Lift up to 50 lbs as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.
• Follow all OSHA and internal safety standards.

Qualifications

• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent work experience.
• Experience with standard shop measuring tools and hand tools (required).
• Exceptional attendance record (required).
• Experience operating metal stamping presses (preferred).
• Proficient with standard shop math.
• Able to read blueprints/schematics and engineering drawings.
• Capable of basic equipment maintenance.
• Read, understand, follow, and enforce safety procedures.
• Sound administrative/procedural judgment and strong teamwork skills.
• Ideal candidates bring 2–5 years of related experience.

Proficiencies

• Continuous Improvement; Quick and Easy Kaizen
• Equipment Troubleshooting
• Material Handling
• Machine Setups for Production Runs
• Excellent Communication

Tools & Technologies

• Punch Press
• Stamping Press
• Feed Lines and Associated Automation
• Forklifts, Pallet Jacks, Overhead Cranes