Manager - Tool Room

Company Description
SUYOG RUBBER (India) PVT. LTD. is an OEM supplier specializing in automobile rubber parts, including mountings, suspension bushes, dampers, transmission parts, cabin components, and more. The company also manufactures rubber parts for the agricultural sector, gaskets, O-rings, seals, bellows, hoses, and elastomer springs. SUYOG RUBBER is ISO 9001:2000 certified for Quality Management Systems by TUV INDIA Pvt. Ltd. The company supplies high-quality products to prominent vehicle manufacturers like Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors, and other renowned auto component manufacturers.

Position Overview
The Tool Room Head is responsible for the design, development, manufacturing, maintenance, and repair of all tools, molds, dies, jigs, and fixtures used in rubber molding and metal-to-rubber bonded component production. This role ensures high-quality mold performance, minimal downtime, timely new tool development, and strict adherence to preventive maintenance schedules. The Tool Room Head leads the tool room team, supports NPD, Production, and Quality functions, and drives continuous improvement in tooling reliability and cost efficiency.

1. Tool Design & Development  
• Lead design of new molds, dies, trimming tools, and fixtures for rubber and bonded components.

• Review component drawings, parting lines, gate designs, and feasibility.

• Ensure mold design accuracy, manufacturability, and alignment with process capability.

• Support NPD team in mold trials, validation, and PPAP readiness.

• Drive VA/VE initiatives to reduce tooling cost and improve tool life.

2. Tool Manufacturing & New Tool Projects  
• Plan and execute tool manufacturing activities, ensuring on-time completion of molds.

• Allocate machining, fitting, heat-treatment, and assembly tasks to team members.

• Monitor tool machining quality and dimensional accuracy.

• Ensure trial readiness for new tools and coordinate with Production & NPD.

• Maintain strict control over tool manufacturing budgets and consumption.

3. Tool Maintenance, Repair & Troubleshooting  
• Plan, schedule, and implement preventive maintenance (PM) of molds and tools.

• Respond quickly to tool breakdowns and ensure fast restoration to avoid production loss.

• Troubleshoot recurring mold issues such as flash, short shots, air traps, burn marks, and mismatch.

• Maintain tool history cards, maintenance logs, and breakdown reports.

• Improve mold life through engineering enhancements and refurbishments.

4. Tool Reliability, Quality & Performance Improvement  
• Monitor and improve tool performance KPIs such as rejection trends, dimensional stability, and tool life.

• Support Quality team in root-cause analysis for tool-related defects.

• Lead continuous improvement projects for reliability, uptime, and repeatability.

• Ensure first-time-right tool trials and reduce dependency on repeated tool corrections.

5. Cost Control & Resource Management  
• Control tool room operational costs, machining consumables, and spares.

• Optimize machining productivity through better planning and load balancing.

• Drive refurbishment programs to reduce new tool investment.

• Prepare budgets for tool room resources, equipment, and manpower.

6. Manpower Leadership & Skill Development  
• Lead toolmakers, machinists, designers, and fitters effectively.

• Improve skill levels through structured training in machining, tool fitting, CAD/CAM, and mold maintenance.

• Ensure discipline, safety, and productivity norms are followed in the tool room.

• Conduct performance reviews and mentor team members for career development.

7. Safety, Systems & Compliance  
• Ensure safe handling of machines, grinders, CNC/VMC machines, EDM, welding, and polishing operations.

• Enforce PPE usage and compliance with safety standards.

• Maintain 5S and lean practices within the tool room.

• Ensure documentation, traceability, and audit readiness for IATF / ISO systems.

8. Cross-Functional Coordination  
• Work closely with NPD for new component trials and mold readiness.

• Support Production in resolving mold problems affecting cycle time or rejection.

• Coordinate with Quality for defect analysis, gauge development, and dimensional accuracy.

• Align with PPC for tool readiness and support new projects.

Key Interfaces  
· Top Management

· NPD

· Maintenance

· Head Operations

· Accounts

· Suppliers

· Customers

Key Skills & Competencies  
• Strong knowledge of mold design, tool manufacturing, and tool maintenance.

• Expertise in CAD/CAM, machining processes, CNC programming, and tool fitting.

• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills for mold-related problems.

• Good leadership, planning, and team management abilities.

• Understanding of rubber molding processes and metal-to-rubber bonding (preferred).

• Knowledge of lean tools, preventive maintenance, and reliability engineering.