Tool Room Manager

Role & responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end Tool Room operations including tool design, fabrication, repair, refurbishment, and maintenance of dies, moulds, jigs, and fixtures.
• Plan and implement Preventive Maintenance (PM) and Predictive Maintenance schedules for all critical tools and machines to reduce breakdowns.
• Ensure timely availability of tools for production, minimizing line stoppages and downtime due to tooling issues.
• Monitor tool life cycles, maintain tool history cards, and drive initiatives to improve tool durability and reduce tooling costs.
• Lead root cause analysis for tool failures/breakdowns and implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Coordinate with Production, Quality, and PPC teams to align tooling availability with production schedules and new product introductions.
• Oversee procurement, indenting, and vendor coordination for tooling spares, raw materials, and outsourced tooling jobs.
• Drive cost optimization through in-house fabrication vs. outsourcing decisions, and control tool room maintenance budgets.
• Ensure compliance with safety standards, 5S, and housekeeping norms within the tool room.
• Lead, train, and develop the tool room team including tool makers, technicians, and machine operators.
• Maintain documentation for tooling drawings, modification history, and technical specifications.
• Support new tool development and modifications for new products/engineering changes in coordination with design/R&D teams.
• Drive continuous improvement projects (Kaizen) to enhance tool room efficiency and reduce cycle time.
• Prepare and present MIS reports on tool room performance, downtime analysis, and cost metrics to plant leadership.

Educational Qualification

• Diploma / B.E. / B.Tech in Mechanical / Tool & Die / Production Engineering.

Experience Required

• 15-20 years of experience in Tool Room / Tool & Die Maintenance in a manufacturing environment (Automotive / Coatings / Paints / Process Industry preferred).
• Minimum 3–5 years in a supervisory/managerial capacity leading a tool room team.

Key Skills & Competencies

• Strong technical knowledge of dies, moulds, jigs, fixtures, and precision tooling.
• Hands-on expertise in CNC/VMC machining, EDM, wire-cut, and grinding processes.
• Proficiency in reading engineering drawings, GD&T, and tooling specifications.
• Knowledge of preventive/predictive maintenance systems and TPM practices.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills (RCA, 8D, FMEA).
• Good team management, planning, and cross-functional coordination skills.
• Working knowledge of MS Office / ERP systems for MIS and inventory tracking.

Working Conditions

• Based at Bhiwadi Plant; shop-floor role requiring regular presence in the tool room and production shop floor.