| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Production |
| Level | Entry level |
| Reports to | Tool Room Engineer |
| Direct reports | None |
| Experience | 2 to 5 years in a tool room |
Tool Room Operator job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Tool Room Operator
Department: Production
Reports to: Tool Room Engineer
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Tool Room Operator makes and repairs tooling in the tool room, running machines such as surface grinders, milling machines, wire cut and EDM to close tolerance. They work from tool drawings under the tool room engineer, machine die and mould parts, and help assemble and repair tools. The role reports to the Tool Room Engineer. A good tool room operator produces accurate tool parts on time, holds fine tolerances, and helps keep dies and moulds ready so production is not stopped.
Key responsibilities
- Read tool drawings and machine die, mould and fixture parts on tool room machines to close tolerance.
- Set up and operate the surface grinder, milling machine, wire cut and EDM for tool work.
- Hold fine tolerances and fine finish on tool parts and check them with precision instruments.
- Help assemble dies, moulds and fixtures and fit parts under the tool room engineer's guidance.
- Repair worn or broken tool parts by machining or replacing them to bring the tool back to size.
- Polish mould cavities and dress die surfaces as instructed to restore finish.
- Support die trials on the press by staging inserts and adjusting parts after the trial.
- Keep tool room machines maintained, clean and lubricated, and report faults.
- Maintain the tool part records and update the tool history when a repair is done.
- Manage tool steel, inserts and consumables at the bench and report low stock.
Requirements
- ITI in Tool and Die or Machinist trade
- NTTF tool making course is an advantage
- Reading of tool drawings and GD and T
- 2 to 5 years in a tool room
KRAs and KPIs for a Tool Room Operator
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Tool part accuracy | Machined tool parts within tolerance on at least 98 percent of jobs each month |
| On-time delivery | Tool parts and repairs delivered by the committed time on most jobs |
| Finish quality | Mould and die finish restored to the required standard after polishing |
| Tool downtime | Repairs completed fast enough to keep tool-related line downtime low |
| Machine care | Tool room machines maintained with faults reported before breakdown |
| Records | Tool history updated for every repair with no missing entries |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: Surface grinder, Wire cut EDM, Milling machine, Height gauge and micrometer, Polishing kit.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Senior Tool Room Operator, Tool Room Engineer, Die Maker
Interview questions for a Tool Room Operator
- How do you hold a tolerance of a few microns when grinding a die plate?
- Explain how wire cut EDM works and when you would use it in the tool room.
- How do you polish a mould cavity to restore its finish without changing size?
- A die part has worn. How do you decide whether to repair or replace it?
- What checks do you make after machining a tool part before it goes for assembly?
- Tell me about a tricky tool repair that got a line back into production.
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What does a tool room operator do?
A tool room operator makes and repairs tooling in the tool room. They run surface grinders, milling machines, wire cut and EDM to machine die and mould parts to close tolerance, help assemble and fit tools, and repair worn parts. They keep dies and moulds ready so production lines are not stopped for tool problems.
What is the difference between a tool room operator and a tool room engineer?
A tool room operator machines and fits tool parts on tool room machines from drawings. A tool room engineer designs the tools, plans their manufacture, proves them out on the machine and decides repair strategy. The operator executes the making and repair, while the engineer owns the design and the schedule.
What qualifications do you need to be a tool room operator?
Most tool room operators hold an ITI in the tool and die or machinist trade, and a tool making course from an institute such as NTTF is a strong advantage. Employers look for the ability to hold fine tolerances on grinders, wire cut and EDM, read tool drawings with GD and T, and fit dies and moulds accurately.