3640) Tool Design & Tool Room Manager

Role Purpose

To lead the complete Tool Design and Tool Room function with strong hands-on design capability. The role holder must personally be capable of converting a component drawing, sample or customer requirement into a complete manufacturable tool design and taking it through manufacturing, assembly, trial, correction and production release. The role also owns existing tool reliability, preventive maintenance, tool life improvement and development of the Tool Room team.

Key Responsibilities – Design

• Personally design tools and components in 2D and 3D CAD / professional tool-design software
• Independently design progressive dies, compound dies, blanking and piercing dies, high-speed press tools, die-casting tools, jigs, fixtures, gauges, special-purpose tooling and engineering components.
• Convert customer drawing / sample into feasibility study, process concept, strip layout, tool concept, detailed design, manufacturing drawings, BOM and final tool.
• Prepare and review part drawings, assembly drawings, detailed manufacturing drawings, tolerances, fits, GD&T and revision-controlled design documentation.
• Perform DFM (Design for Manufacturing) reviews so designs are technically sound, economical and practical to manufacture in the Tool Room.
• Select suitable tool materials, tool steels, heat treatment, punch and die clearances, guiding systems, stripper systems and other tool construction details.
• Reverse-engineer existing tools or components and redesign / improve them where drawings are unavailable or performance is inadequate.
• Conduct design reviews and identify possible tool failures, manufacturing difficulties and maintenance risks before releasing drawings for manufacture.
• Own design changes and corrections arising during tool manufacturing and trials until stable production performance is achieved.
• Establish a controlled design system covering drawing numbers, revisions, approvals, BOMs, backups and design records.

Key Responsibilities – Tool Room & Manufacturing

• Lead the complete Tool Room team comprising designers, tool makers and technicians with strong ownership, discipline and accountability.
• Guide and control tool manufacturing processes including milling, grinding, EDM / Wire Cut, fitting, assembly, inspection and trials.
• Ensure the design is correctly converted into a working production tool and resolve manufacturing / assembly problems hands-on.
• Plan and implement preventive maintenance schedules for all dies, die-casting tools, fixtures and related tooling.
• Maintain tool history cards, preventive maintenance records, breakdown history, tool-life records and critical spare planning.
• Troubleshoot burr, dimensional variation, alignment problems, punch / die wear, breakage and repeat tool failures through structured root-cause analysis.
• Improve tool life, reduce breakdown frequency, reduce repair turnaround time and optimize tooling cost.
• Coordinate closely with Production, Quality, Maintenance and New Product Development for tooling readiness and problem resolution.
• Implement Tool Room SOPs, 5S, tool identification, daily review systems, documentation and continuous improvement practices.
• Develop the technical capability of designers, tool makers and technicians and build a strong second-line team.

Required Technical Skills

• Excellent hands-on 2D and 3D CAD / tool design capability using AutoCAD, SolidWorks, CATIA, Creo, NX or equivalent professional software.
• Strong knowledge of high-speed stamping, progressive press tools and precision press-tool design.
• Experience in design and manufacturing of stamping dies, die-casting tools, jigs, fixtures, gauges and engineering components.
• Strong understanding of strip layout, press tonnage, shut height, feed pitch, die clearances, tolerances, fits, GD&T, tool steels and heat treatment.
• Practical knowledge of Tool Room manufacturing processes including milling, surface grinding, EDM / Wire Cut, fitting, assembly and tool trials.
• Ability to independently diagnose tooling problems and modify the design based on actual production performance.
• Ability to read customer drawings, understand component functionality and develop complete tooling solutions from concept to production.

Leadership Expectations

• Must be a hands-on technical leader who can personally design critical tools while leading the Design and Tool Room team.
• Take complete ownership of tool design quality, manufacturing completion, tool availability and production performance.
• Take independent technical decisions and remain effective during urgent tool breakdowns and new-development timelines.
• Build systems so the department works proactively through design control, preventive maintenance and planned development rather than reacting to breakdowns.
• Develop people, delegate routine work and create accountability while retaining personal technical command over critical designs.
• Demonstrate a continuous-improvement, cost-conscious, quality-focused and production-support mindset.

Preferred Candidate Profile

Diploma / Degree in Tool & Die Making, Mechanical, Production Engineering or equivalent, with 8–10 years of relevant experience in stamping / press-tool design and manufacturing. Strong hands-on CAD design experience is essential. Experience with high-speed press tooling, progressive dies, die-casting tools, fixtures and Tool Room leadership will be strongly preferred.

Key Success Expectations

• Ability to independently design and deliver technically sound, manufacturable tools from concept to production.
• Timely completion of new tool design, manufacturing, trials and production stabilization.
• High tool availability and minimum production loss due to tooling.
• 100% preventive maintenance discipline for dies, tools and fixtures.
• Reduction in repeat tool failures and measurable improvement in tool life.
• Strong design control, Tool Room systems, documentation, 5S and team capability.
• Effective coordination with Production and Quality to support product quality and customer delivery.