Toolroom Manager

About the role

The Toolroom Manager will lead the Tool & Die Mechanical Engineering team in Pretoria, overseeing the full lifecycle of stamping assets and driving operational excellence in the toolroom. This senior position ensures dimensional stability, maximises strokes per minute and minimises downtime across high‑volume automotive panel production.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of 20+ engineers and technicians, establishing robust maintenance and engineering standards.
• Manage preventative and predictive maintenance programmes for all die sets, guaranteeing tool reliability for production targets.
• Conduct root‑cause analysis on dimensional issues and collaborate with Quality and Production to meet CP/CPK specifications.
• Ensure all toolroom activities comply with OHSAS, Ford safety standards, 5S and the Quality Operating System.
• Implement Lean Manufacturing principles to reduce change‑over times and improve die‑repair efficiency.
• Act as the final technical authority on complex tooling challenges affecting exterior panels.
• Control OPEX budgets for tooling consumables and metrology equipment upgrades.

Required profile

• National Diploma or Degree in Mechanical Engineering with a Tool & Die Making trade qualification.
• Minimum 10 years in automotive stamping, including at least 5 years focused on Skin Panel/Class A surface production.
• Proven experience managing large technical teams (20+ people) in a high‑volume toolroom.

Required skills

• Skin Panel expertise and Class A surface knowledge.
• Die spotting and hand‑finishing techniques.
• Draw‑die development, spring‑back compensation and material behaviour in stampings.
• Advanced metrology: GOM 3D scanning and CMM data interpretation.
• Lean Manufacturing implementation.