Mold & Tooling Workshop Manager

About the Role

We are seeking a highly skilled and technically proficient Mold & Tooling Workshop Manager to oversee all operations of our mold workshop. This role involves comprehensive management of the plastic mold lifecycle including design, engineering, production, assembly, trial runs, maintenance, modification, and performance optimization. The position is based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with a preference for candidates from India or the Philippines.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily workshop operations for mold and tooling activities.
• Lead a diverse team consisting of mold designers, toolmakers, CNC machinists, EDM operators, fitters, and various technicians.
• Manage the full mold development cycle from initial concept, 3D design, manufacturing, assembly, trial testing, approvals, through to production release.
• Review and sanction technical documentation including 2D drawings, 3D models, mold designs, and specifications.
• Plan and supervise mold manufacturing workflows, preventive maintenance, repair work, modification tasks, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Diagnose complex mold and tooling faults and determine root causes affecting production efficiency.
• Maintain close collaboration with Production, Engineering, R&D, Quality Assurance, and Procurement departments.
• Direct mold trial processes to improve cycle times, productivity, dimensional conformity, and overall product quality.
• Manage operational priorities including staffing, machinery utilization, spare parts inventory, tooling, and scheduling of projects.
• Coordinate with external mold/tooling vendors when necessary.
• Set and track key performance indicators (KPIs) related to mold availability, downtime, maintenance performance, project timelines, quality standards, and productivity rates.

Technical Expertise Required

In-depth understanding of various plastic mold types and tooling technologies is essential:

• Injection Molds: PET preform molds, PP/HDPE and other injection molds, hot and cold runner systems, slides, lifters, inserts, ejector mechanisms, cooling systems, troubleshooting, and optimization.
• Blow Molding: Extrusion blow molding molds, tooling construction, troubleshooting and optimization.
• PET: Expertise in PET bottle blow molds and preform molds with practical experience in mold trials and process enhancement.
• Injection Blow Molding (IBM): Comprehensive knowledge of IBM molds and tooling, including design, manufacturing, assembly, trialing, maintenance, troubleshooting, and understanding injection, blowing, cooling, neck finish processes, and mold mechanisms.

Engineering and CAD Skills

• Proficiency in SolidWorks with strong capabilities in interpreting, editing, and creating 2D and 3D mold design engineering drawings.
• Familiarity with CAD/CAM software is advantageous.
• Solid grasp of mold design fundamentals, tolerance standards, materials science, and manufacturability considerations.

Mold Manufacturing Competencies

• Practical experience with CNC milling, CNC turning, EDM and Wire EDM, grinding, drilling, polishing, mold fitting, assembly, tryout, dimensional inspection, and mold repair and adjustments.

Qualifications and Experience

• Possess 5 to 7+ years of experience in plastic mold and tooling manufacturing.
• Background in roles such as Mold Workshop Manager, Tool Room Manager, Mold Design Manager, or Senior Tooling Engineer.
• Proven leadership in managing mold workshops or tool rooms, and guiding technical teams.
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills.
• Ability to handle multiple projects concurrently and meet deadlines.
• Effective communication and coordination abilities within multicultural teams.