Punch Press Production Operator — Assembly Set‑Up Support

Shift: 1st Shift

A day in this role

You arrive on first shift and head to your workstation where the dies have already been set by a set‑up specialist. You review the shop order, examine the master sample/template, and confirm specifications before you start. After engaging all guarding and safety interlocks, you bring the punch press online to perform blanking, piercing, trimming, and notching operations. Throughout the run, you watch for burrs, wear, or broken punches, verifying parts with fixed gauges and scales to ensure they match the template. If anything seems off with the die or machine, you promptly notify the set‑up person. Between batches, you may move parts or containers, and at times operate other equipment within the department. You wrap up by following all prescribed safety practices and completing any additional tasks assigned.

Core responsibilities

• Operate punch press equipment to perform blanking, piercing, trimming, and notching where tooling set‑ups are completed by others.
• Visually inspect parts during production; monitor for burrs, broken punches, and other defects.
• Work from shop orders, drawings, and samples; verify output to a sample part or template using fixed gauges.
• Obtain and confirm required specifications and details before each job run.
• Engage all safety devices and follow established safety procedures prior to cycling the press.
• Notify the set‑up technician of any die issues or equipment malfunctions.
• Assist with moving material, parts, tooling, and containers as needed; operate additional department equipment as directed.
• Operate machine controls and continuously monitor running conditions to maintain quality and throughput.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Comfort with basic math, including arithmetic, decimals, and fractions.
• Ability to interpret drawings, follow shop orders, and reference production samples.
• Skilled with inspection tools: micrometers, scales, and fixed gauges.
• High school education (or equivalent) plus additional relevant training.
• Approximately 2–3 months of experience to become familiar with a limited range of tooling, parts, and related inspection.

Physical demands

• Light physical work: loading/unloading parts and frequently handling materials, parts, and tooling.
• Operate presses while repeatedly lifting or moving very light materials throughout the shift.

Preferred proficiencies

• Equipment troubleshooting
• General troubleshooting aptitude
• Mechanical troubleshooting
• Soldering
• CNC machine installation
• Reading a tape measure
• Blueprint literacy