Pattern Shop Manager

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Full Time Management Auburn Hills, MI, US

4 days ago Requisition

Salary Range: $80,000.00 To $ Annually

Peninsula Plastics is rapidly expanding, and so is our Pattern Shop! We are looking for an experienced, hands-on leader to join our team as a Pattern Shop Manager.

Peninsula Plastics specializes in manufacturing reusable plastic packaging and is a leader in the thermoforming industry. The Pattern Shop Manager is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Pattern Shop while providing hands-on technical expertise in the creation, modification, maintenance, and repair of patterns, molds, fixtures, and production tooling, with a particular focus on thermoform and vacuum-form tooling
.

This position will lead and support Pattern Shop employees, coordinate tooling projects and priorities, and work closely with Design, Engineering, and Production to ensure tooling is completed accurately, efficiently, and according to production requirements. The Pattern Shop Manager will oversee the development and maintenance of tooling used throughout the thermoforming/ vacuum-forming process and provide technical support to resolve tooling-related production issues.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience with woodworking, metalworking, pattern making, fabrication, and tooling, including hands-on experience with thermoform and/or vacuum-form tools
. This individual should be a strong problem solver who is comfortable leading and mentoring a team while remaining actively involved in shop operations and tooling projects.

Shift: 1st Shift - 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday, with some weekend availability required.

Compensation:$80,000-$100,000

• Manage and oversee the daily operations of the Pattern Shop, including employees, projects, equipment, materials, tooling, and workflow.
• Lead, train, mentor, and provide technical guidance to Pattern Shop Associates and other assigned team members.
• Assign and prioritize projects based on production schedules, tooling requirements, deadlines, and business needs.
• Manage the flow and scheduling of tooling projects from initial development through completion and release to Production.
• Oversee the creation of wood patterns used for prototyping, thermoforming, vacuum forming, and production tooling applications.
• Oversee and perform the conversion of aluminum foundry castings into production-ready thermoform and vacuum-form tools.
• Create and oversee the development of initial molds and tooling based on specifications provided by Design and Engineering, including blueprints, schematics, drawings, models, and other technical requirements.
• Fabricate, modify, maintain, and repair thermoform and vacuum-form production tooling to ensure proper performance and production readiness.
• Create, modify, and repair fixtures used in the manufacturing, forming, trimming, and inspection of thermoformed plastic components.
• Utilize woodworking, metalworking, machining, and fabrication techniques to manufacture and maintain patterns, molds, fixtures, and production tooling.
• Set up and operate Pattern Shop equipment, including lathes, presses, cutting machines, saws, grinders, milling equipment, pneumatic tools, and other woodworking and metalworking equipment.
• Monitor thermoform and vacuum-form tooling during production to ensure proper operation, efficient run rates, part quality, and tooling performance.
• Identify tooling wear, damage, or performance concerns and determine when repairs, modifications, adjustments, or preventative maintenance are necessary.
• Troubleshoot tooling and production-related issues and develop practical solutions to minimize downtime and maintain production schedules.
• Support Production during tooling trials, setup, troubleshooting, and process adjustments as needed.
• Coordinate with Production, Design, Engineering, and other departments to ensure tooling meets specifications, dimensional requirements, and production needs.
• Review completed patterns, molds, fixtures, and tools to ensure dimensional accuracy, functionality, quality, and readiness for production.
• Utilize precision measuring equipment, including micrometers, Vernier calipers, steel rules, tape measures, and other measuring devices to verify tooling specifications and dimensions.
• Perform and document calculations used to…