Entry-Level Mold Setup Technician

Job Description

Job Description

Position Summary

Entry-Level Mold Setup Technician prepares production equipment for safe and efficient operation by installing, removing, cleaning, inspecting, aligning, and adjusting molds, dies, tooling, and related machine components used to manufacture food-grade aluminum containers. The technician completes changeovers according to the production schedule, verifies setup conditions before startup, supports first-piece approval, and works with Production, Maintenance, and Quality to reduce changeover time, prevent damage, and maintain product quality.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Review the production schedule, work order, product specifications, and setup instructions before beginning each mold or tooling changeover.
• Safely remove, transport, install, and secure molds, dies, punches, feeders, guides, and related tooling using approved lifting and material-handling equipment.
• Complete mold and die changeovers in the correct sequence and within established changeover-time expectations.
• Verify mold, die, and tooling identification against the scheduled product and approved specifications before installation.
• Inspect molds, dies, punches, fasteners, alignment surfaces, guards, hoses, fittings, and related components for wear, damage, buildup, contamination, or missing parts.
• Clean tooling and machine contact areas before installation and after removal using approved materials and methods.
• Perform setup adjustments, alignment, centering, height or clearance checks, feeder positioning, and other authorized settings needed for safe machine startup.
• Connect and verify approved pneumatic, hydraulic, electrical, lubrication, cooling, and sensor connections associated with the setup, within the employee's training and authorization.
• Confirm that guards, interlocks, emergency stops, clamps, fasteners, and safety devices are installed and functioning before releasing the machine for startup.
• Support trial runs and first-piece production; make authorized setup adjustments to correct misalignment, forming problems, feeding issues, wrinkles, tears, dimensional variation, or other setup-related defects.
• Work with Quality to obtain first-piece approval before full production and respond promptly to quality concerns related to molds, dies, or setup conditions.
• Assist operators during startup and provide clear instructions regarding approved settings, special setup conditions, and product-specific requirements.
• Perform routine mold and tooling maintenance, including cleaning, lubrication, minor adjustments, and replacement of approved wear items.
• Report damaged tooling, unsafe conditions, recurring defects, and repairs requiring specialized maintenance to the Maintenance Manager immediately.
• Protect molds and tooling during movement and storage; return each item to its designated location with required identification and protective measures.
• Complete setup sheets, changeover checklists, mold-change records, downtime documentation, inspection records, and other required paperwork accurately and legibly.
• Maintain an organized setup area and control tools, bolts, parts, cleaning materials, and debris to prevent loss, damage, and product contamination.
• Participate in changeover improvement, 5S, preventive maintenance, root-cause analysis, and continuous-improvement activities.
• Follow all Company safety, lockout tagout, food-safety, Good Manufacturing Practices, sanitation, quality, environmental, and security requirements.
• Perform other setup and production-support duties as assigned, consistent with the position's responsibilities and the employee's training.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Prefer at least two years of manufacturing setup, mold or die changeover, machine operation, industrial maintenance, tooling, or closely related experience; an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Mechanical aptitude and demonstrated ability to use hand tools, power tools, torque tools, measuring instruments, and approved lifting devices safely.
• Ability to read work orders, setup sheets, product specifications, basic drawings, equipment instructions, labels, and safety procedures.
• Ability to identify damaged, mismatched, worn, or improperly installed tooling and escalate concerns before startup.
• Basic math, measurement, documentation, and computer skills.
• Ability to communicate clearly and work effectively with operators, maintenance employees, supervisors, and quality personnel.
• Ability to work the assigned shift and respond to overtime, weekend, holiday, or schedule changes when business conditions require.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Strong attention to detail and the ability to follow an exact setup sequence.
• Ability to distinguish setup-related defects from operating, material, tooling, or maintenance problems.
• Ability to prioritize scheduled changeovers and urgent production needs without bypassing safety or quality requirements.
• Ability to protect precision tooling from impact, corrosion, contamination, and improper storage.
• Commitment to safety, product quality, teamwork, reliable attendance, and accurate documentation.

Physical Requirements

The physical requirements listed below describe the demands typically necessary to perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities, consistent with applicable law.

• Regularly stand, walk, bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, reach, push, pull, and work in and around industrial equipment.Regularly use hands and fingers to handle tools, fasteners, controls, molds, dies, and precision instruments.
• Lift and carry up to 50 pounds independently; use approved lifting equipment or team assistance for heavier or awkward tooling and components.
• Climb ladders or steps and work from platforms or in restricted machine areas when trained and authorized.
• Maintain sufficient close, distance, color, depth, and peripheral vision to align tooling, inspect components, read instruments, and work safely.
• Hear alarms, equipment changes, radio communications, and verbal instructions in a manufacturing environment, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Equal Employment Opportunity

AMA-ALU Corporation provides equal employment opportunities to qualified applicants and employees without unlawful discrimination. Employment decisions are based on legitimate business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, consistent with applicable law.