Tooling Superintendent - Cold Stamping
US Gestamp Chattanooga, US, US Gestamp
Tooling Superintendent - Cold Stamping
With presence in more than 20 countries, Gestamp is a leading international group specializing in the design, development, and manufacture of metal automotive components. Our commitment to innovation drives us to create safer, lighter vehicles while minimizing energy consumption and environmental impact.
Job Summary
The Assistant Tooling Manager supports the tooling manager in leading and coordinating all cold stamping tooling and machining operations across three shifts. This position is responsible for supervising daily tooling activities, provide technical expertise in die performance and formability, ensuring full compliance with quality and safety standards, and driving continuous improvement activities. The role includes ownership of preventive maintenance (PM) execution and schedule adherence (monthly and annual effectiveness compliance).
The Assistant Tooling Manager acts as the primary operational leader in the absence of the Tooling Manager and plays a critical role in optimizing tooling performance, die maintenance strategies, CNC machining coordination, and overall production stability.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Oversee tooling fabrication, repair, spotting, and refurbishment activities to ensure on-time delivery in alignment with production schedules and quality standards.
- Supervise daily tooling operations across all shifts, providing clear direction to team leaders and tool makers.
- Collaborate closely with the tooling engineer to plan, prioritize and execute CNC machining activities, ensuring alignment with die repair schedules, engineering changes, and production requirements.
- Support technical decision making on dimensional improvements (internal and/or external).
- Lead troubleshooting efforts for die failures, press interruptions, dimensional issues and formability concerns.
- Assist in man power planning, shift scheduling, and resource allocation to maximize productivity.
- Support the implementation of die changes.
- Own the achievement of the monthly and annual preventive maintenance schedule, ensuring both effectiveness and compliance.
- Analyze tooling performance data and initiate corrective and preventive actions.
- Contribute to the development and optimization of preventive and corrective die maintenance plans.
- Document and evaluate die repairs, engineering changes, and process improvements.
- Monitor and maintain spare parts inventory in coordination with the tooling engineer and tooling planner
- Ensure timely follow up and closure of corrective actions.
- Promote and enforce safety standards, 5s practices, and departmental organization.
- Lead and actively participate in continuous improvement initiatives across all shifts.
- Provide active support during home-line commissioning of new dies in collaboration with the tooling engineer.
Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechatronic / Mechanical Engineering, or related field preferred (or equivalent tooling experience).
- Minimum 5 years of experience in automotive cold stamping, Tool & Die, CNC machining coordination, or cold forming operations.
- Prior supervisory or leadership experience preferred.
- Strong knowledge of die repair, machining processes (including CNC), spotting, and tryout operations.
- Proven experience supporting continuous improvement initiatives in a manufacturing environment.