Overview
Toolroom Manager Jobs in Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa at Ford Motor Company
Title: Toolroom Manager
Company: Ford Motor Company
Location: Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
Responsible for the lifecycle management of stamping assets, toolroom operational excellence, and the technical development of the engineering team. Drive long-term dimensional stability and optimize tool maintenance strategies to maximize Strokes Per Minute (SPM) and minimize downtime
- Strategic Leadership & Management: Lead the Tool & Die ME team in the development and execution of robust maintenance and engineering standards. Mentor and develop a high-performing team of engineers and technicians.
- Tooling Lifecycle & Performance: Oversee the preventative and predictive maintenance programs for all die sets. Ensure tool reliability to meet production volume requirements.
- Dimensional Integrity: Drive root-cause analysis for complex dimensional issues. Collaborate with Quality and Production teams to ensure final panels meet strict CP/CPK requirements.
- Safety & Compliance: Ensure all toolroom activities and die modifications adhere to OHSAS and Ford’s safety standards.
- Continuous Improvement: Implement Lean Manufacturing principles within the toolroom to reduce changeover times and improve die repair efficiency.
- Technical Problem Solving: Act as the final technical authority on complex tooling issues affecting exterior panels. Lead root-cause analysis for surface quality trends identified in the Quality Loop (QLS).
- Asset & Standards Management: Maintain the integrity of checking fixtures and die standards. Ensure all toolroom and metrology activities comply with Ford’s Quality Operating System (QOS) and 5S standards.
- Financial Management: Control departmental budgets (OPEX), focusing on specialized tooling consumables and metrology equipment calibration/upgrades.
Skills
- Skin Panel Expertise (Mandatory): Expert knowledge of Class A surface requirements, die spotting, and hand-finishing techniques for exterior panels.
- Technical Mastery: Deep understanding of draw-die development, spring-back compensation, and material behavior in stampings.
- Metrology Proficiency: Advanced ability to interpret GOM/3D scanning data and CMM reports to drive tooling adjustments.
- Leadership: Proven ability to manage a large workforce of skilled tradespeople.
- Analytical Thinking: Ability to bridge the gap between digital measurement data and physical toolroom intervention.
Education
- Education: National Diploma or Degree in Mechanical Engineering + Tool & Die Making Trade.
- Experience: Minimum 10 years in Automotive Stamping, with a mandatory minimum of 5 years focused specifically on Skin Panel/Class A surface production.
- Management Experience: Proven track record of managing large technical teams (20+ people) within a high-volume toolroom or manufacturing engineering environment.