Heading Operator

Job Overview

Working under general supervision and adhering to established protocols, the Heading Operator prepares and runs various cold forming machines that shape metal parts automatically according to blueprint details and setup charts.

Primary Duties

• Dismantle, set up, and operate diverse product lines involving hot or cold headers and trimmers to produce metal components within specified tolerances.
• Conduct initial run inspections and carry out regular quality verifications to ensure product standards.
• Perform routine upkeep on machinery, which includes cleaning, lubrication, topping up fluids, and checking air pressure and oil levels.
• Install cold heading tooling and multiple support devices onto machines.
• Calculate feed lengths and progression to maintain part quality.
• Configure processing parameters and monitor equipment to sustain quality throughout operations.
• Interpret measurements from tools like shadowgraphs, micrometers, and calipers for quality assurance.
• Carry out minor repairs and adjustments on dies, such as sharpening and modifications to preserve part integrity.
• Feed wire through machines, manage material movement in and out of the machines, and handle finished parts containers.
• Lift loads up to 35 pounds as part of material handling tasks.

Required Skills and Experience

• Minimum of 5 years' experience as a header man operating cold heading machinery.
• Ability to apply logical and systematic approaches to solve practical, variable problems within limited standard procedures.
• Interpret various forms of instructions including written, verbal, diagrammatic, or scheduling formats.
• Proficient in reading, understanding, and implementing directions from mechanical drawings.
• Competence in accurately measuring product dimensions using rulers, calipers, gauges, or micrometers to verify adherence to specifications.
• Capable of reading blueprints or job orders for defining product specifications, tolerances, and inspection quantities.