Tool and Die Artisan at Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa

POSITION DETAILS

• Perform safety inspections using corporate tools and conduct safety talks, Identify and ensure that safety hazards and unsafe practices are promptly corrected.
• Conduct test runs with completed tools or dies to ensure that parts meet specifications; make adjustments as necessary.        
• Cut, shape, and trim blanks or blocks to specified lengths or shapes, using power saws, shears, rules, and hand tools.   
• File, grind, shim, and adjust different parts to properly fit them together.   
• Fit and assemble parts to make, repair, or modify dies, jigs, gauges, and tools, using machine tools and hand tools.  
• Inspect finished dies for smoothness, contour conformity, and defects.       
• Lift, position, and secure machined parts or die components using hoists and overhead cranes. 
• Measure, mark, and scribe metal or plastic stock to lay out machining, using instruments such as protractors, micrometers, scribes, and rulers.        
• Select metals to be used from a range of metals based on properties such as hardness and heat tolerance.      
• Set up and operate conventional or computer numerically controlled machine (CNC/MECOF) tools such as lathes, milling machines, and grinders to cut, bore, grind, or otherwise shape parts to prescribed dimensions and finishes.             
• Set up and operate drill presses to drill and tap holes in parts for assembly.  
• Smooth and polish flat and contoured surfaces of parts or tools, using scrapers, abrasive stones, files, emery cloths, or power grinders. 
• Study blueprints, sketches, models, or specifications to plan sequences of operations for fabricating tools, dies, or assemblies.
• Verify dimensions, alignments, and clearances of finished parts for conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments such as calipers, gauge blocks, micrometers, and dial indicators.
• Inspect and class the finished part appearance against a master sample.             
• Design jigs, fixtures, and templates for use as work aids in the fabrication of parts or products.            
• Understanding draw die forming, maintenance of beads, trim steels and pierce operations.           
• Set pyrometer controls of heat-treating furnaces, and feed or place parts, tools, or assemblies into furnaces to harden.
• Do preventative maintenance according to instruction (WES) as scheduled. Report nonconformance.            
• Support production with press and assembly-related downtime, including mechanical failures.
• Actively partake in your role to improve FPS.       
• Support continuous improvement actions with press die, press, and assembly process.
• Support maintenance mechanically to ensure good mechanical equipment.
• Modify current installations, and mechanical concepts to make it more efficient, durable, and reliable.         

RESPONSIBILITIES

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

• ISB (Integrated Stamping and Bodyshop) production rate.
• First time through part acceptance.
• Mean time to repair.

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, SKILLS and KNOWLEDGE

• N3 and Toolmaker trade certificate with at least 5 years of experience in an Automotive stamping plant.
• Proficient draw-die forming knowledge.
• 3 years experience with A-class surface dies.
• Ability to read tooling and product drawings.
• Proficient welding skills.
• Knowledge of tool steel properties and heat-treating parameters. 
• Ability to work any shift as well as rotating shifts and weekends.
• Ability to work independently with limited supervision.
• Good Mechanical knowledge.