What is it? How do I get there?

What is it?
The tooling and machining industry is the basis for all of the manufacturing industries, producing everything from the simplest stamping die or metal mold for plastics to the most sophisticated automatic production lines. Major customer industries include automotive, appliance, aerospace, business machines, electronics, agricultural implements, ordnance, transportation, environmental, nuclear, and construction equipment.

What kind of jobs are there?
Journeyman tool and die makers, moldmakers, and machinists are skilled professionals who work in high-tech environments. College credits earned in the four-year TMA Related Theory Apprentice Training are applicable to a two- or four-year degree. Manufacturing, management, sales, and engineering are also excellent career paths.

Is it for me?
The industry is well suited to people who like to work with their heads as well as their hands: interest and ability in mechanical things, good math skills, and understanding of spatial relationships are important prerequisites. Comprehensive language skills are also important.

Types of jobs available in manufacturing

• accounting
• administrative support
• assembler
• buyer
• chief financial officer
• CNC machine tool programmer
• CAD (computer assisted design) operator
• drafter
• computer programmer
• computer network administrator
• controller
• customer service
• sales
• design: automation equipment and machinery, product, mold, tool & die
• human resources
• engineering: applications, electrical, industrial, mechanical, sales, tool
• inspector
• quality control
• inventory control
• machinery builder or specialist
• machine tool set-up/operator
• machinist: manual or CNC, maintenance
• maintenance: machine, facility
• management: engineering, general, department, human resources, information technology, operations, office, plant, production, purchasing, sales, quality, research & development, traffic
• production scheduler
• systems analyst
• tooling technologist
• labor relations
• marketing & sales

If you answered yes to most of these questions, you should consider a career in precision metalworking.