What are the responsibilities and job description for the Copper Machine Operator position at Motor Controls Inc. (MCI)?
About Us
MCI is a 46-year-old industry leader in the design, manufacture, and assembly of electrical controls, electrical enclosures, irrigation pumps and controls, municipal and commercial pump stations, water purification systems and design-to-order metal fabrications. We serve a variety of industries with standard and custom products including water pumping, oil production-drill and refining controls, wastewater treatment, conveying, baggage conveying, handling, and more!
Job Summary
The Copper Busbar Punch Press Operator sets up and operates an EHRT CNC busbar punching machine to produce copper busbars for switchgear and switchboards. This position reviews drawings and travelers, selects the correct program and tooling, verifies first articles, monitors quality throughout production, and maintains a safe, organized work area. The role requires strong attention to detail because busbar accuracy and finish quality directly affect electrical clearance, fit, and safety.
Responsibilities
2nd Shift from 3:00pm to 11:30pm
Disclaimer
The information contained herein is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of the duties and responsibilities of the job, nor are they intended to be an all-inclusive list of the skills and abilities required to do the job. Management may, at its discretion, assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. The duties and responsibilities in this job description may be subject to change at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons.
EEO Notice
Motor Controls, Inc provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Motor Controls, Inc complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
MCI is a 46-year-old industry leader in the design, manufacture, and assembly of electrical controls, electrical enclosures, irrigation pumps and controls, municipal and commercial pump stations, water purification systems and design-to-order metal fabrications. We serve a variety of industries with standard and custom products including water pumping, oil production-drill and refining controls, wastewater treatment, conveying, baggage conveying, handling, and more!
Job Summary
The Copper Busbar Punch Press Operator sets up and operates an EHRT CNC busbar punching machine to produce copper busbars for switchgear and switchboards. This position reviews drawings and travelers, selects the correct program and tooling, verifies first articles, monitors quality throughout production, and maintains a safe, organized work area. The role requires strong attention to detail because busbar accuracy and finish quality directly affect electrical clearance, fit, and safety.
Responsibilities
- Maintain reliable attendance, punctuality, and full-shift coverage.
- Follow all safety requirements, including lockout/tagout, machine guarding, pinch-point awareness, PPE, and safe material-handling practices.
- Review travelers, drawing revisions, material specifications, and job requirements before setup and production.
- Select the correct CNC program, load tooling and clamps, verify offsets and clamp locations, and confirm setup before releasing first article parts.
- Load and unload copper bar stock; run programs; monitor cycle performance, alarms, tooling condition, and part flow.
- Make basic offset, feed, and punch-sequence adjustments within approved limits and escalate programming or machine issues when needed.
- Verify that hole locations, slots, profiles, bends, clearances, and other features meet drawing tolerances and electrical-safety requirements.
- Perform and document first-article and in-process inspections; segregate and report nonconforming material promptly.
- Use measuring tools such as tape measures, steel rules, calipers, micrometers, pin gauges, height gauges, and angle gauges.
- Read and interpret blueprints, views, datums, true-position requirements, hole/slot callouts, and basic GD&T.
- Apply shop math, including fractions, decimals, unit conversions, bolt-circle coordinates, and right-triangle calculations for patterns.
- Verify alloy, thickness, and lot/heat information; protect copper surfaces; prevent edge damage; and stage, label, and organize work in process.
- Deburr, break edges, clean parts, and manage chips/offcuts in accordance with work instructions and recycling procedures.
- Record production counts, scrap, downtime, inspections, program selections, and tooling information accurately in ERP/MES or required logs.
- Complete daily checks for lubrication, filters, clamps, interlocks, guarding, and general equipment condition; escalate maintenance concerns promptly.
- Maintain a clean, organized, and efficient work cell consistent with 5S expectations.
- At least 1 year of experience operating a CNC punch press, busbar punch, or similar CNC production equipment.
- Ability to run EHRT or similar CNC punching equipment, including program selection and basic offset edits, without formal software training.
- Ability to read blueprints and understand basic GD&T requirements.
- Proficiency with hand tools and precision measuring equipment.
- Basic computer skills for HMI use, ERP/MES entries, and production documentation.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality, safety, and production standards.
- Ability to communicate clearly with supervisors, programmers, quality personnel, and other production team members.
- Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. and stand, walk, bend, reach, and move for most of the shift.
- Experience with EHRT FlexPunch/HoleCut, PunchPro/PowerCut, or comparable busbar processing equipment.
- Experience producing copper busbars or similar components requiring strict electrical-safety tolerances.
- Experience in a lean, 5S, ISO 9001, or high-mix manufacturing environment.
- Experience with copper material handling, surface protection, deburring, and edge-break requirements
- Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage (including a free HSA plan option!)
- Quarterly performance bonus
- PTO, Paid Holidays, Paid Bereavement, and Paid Jury Duty
- 401k with matching
- Employer-paid life insurance
- Referral bonus program
2nd Shift from 3:00pm to 11:30pm
Disclaimer
The information contained herein is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of the duties and responsibilities of the job, nor are they intended to be an all-inclusive list of the skills and abilities required to do the job. Management may, at its discretion, assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. The duties and responsibilities in this job description may be subject to change at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons.
EEO Notice
Motor Controls, Inc provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Motor Controls, Inc complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.