Tool and die manufacturing industry skills matrix template

Overview Copied

A skills matrix template is a tool that organizations can use to effectively manage and assess the skills and certification statuses of individual employees or teams.

For example, you can use this tool and die skills matrix to identify your employees’ proficiency levels in various tool and die operations such as milling, grinding, lathe work, and EDM (Electrical Discharge Machining).

• Journeyman Tool and Die Maker Certification
• Certified Manufacturing Technologist (CMfgT)
• Certified Manufacturing Engineer (CMfgE)
• Lean Manufacturing Certification
• Six Sigma Green Belt Certification
• ISO 9001 Certification
• ISO 14001 Certification
• Root Cause Analysis Certification
• Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series (OHSAS) Certification
• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Certification
• ANSI Z10 Certification
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Certification
• Certified Quality Engineer (CQE)
• Certified Maintenance and Reliability Professional (CMRP)
• Total Quality Management (TQM) Certification
• Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE)
• National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA) Certification
• Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) Certification
• American Society for Quality (ASQ) Certification
• American Welding Society (AWS) Certification
• Milling
• Grinding
• Lathe Work
• EDM (Electrical Discharge Machining)
• Precision Measurement
• CNC (Computer Numerical Control) Programming
• Tool Selection and Optimization
• Heat Treatment Knowledge
• Surface Finish Enhancement
• Tolerance Analysis
• NIMS Machining Level I and II Certification
• NIMS Grinding Skills Certification
• Haas CNC Certification
• Hexagon Metrology PC-DMIS Certification
• Die Maintenance and Repair
• Tool and Die Assembly
• Fixture Design and Setup
• Workholding Techniques
• G-code and M-code Understanding
• CAD/CAM Proficiency
• Material Science
• Heat Treatment Knowledge
• ASM Materials & Metallurgy Certification

Related skills Copied

You can use your tool and die skills matrix template to track skills and certifications related to the following (and more) areas:

Tool Design: This involves the ability to design tools and dies for specific applications. A certification that can prove this skill is the Certified Tool and Die Maker (CTDM) certification offered by the National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS).

Materials Science: This involves the ability to select and use materials for tool and die manufacturing. A certification that can prove this skill is the Certified Materials and Process Engineer (CMPE) certification offered by the Society of Plastics Engineers.

CNC Machining: This involves the ability to use computer numerical control (CNC) machines to manufacture tools and dies. A certification that can prove this skill is the Certified CNC Machinist (CCM) certification offered by the National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS).

Quality Control: This involves the ability to ensure that tools and dies meet quality standards. A certification that can prove this skill is the Certified Quality Technician (CQT) certification offered by the American Society for Quality (ASQ).

Safety: This involves the ability to identify and mitigate safety hazards in tool and die manufacturing processes. A certification that can prove this skill is the Certified Safety Professional (CSP) certification offered by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP).

Metallurgical analysis. The ability to analyze material properties, heat treatment effects, and microstructures, and select the right materials and treatments to achieve the desired tool and die performance characteristics

Lean manufacturing principles. Understanding and implementation of Lean manufacturing principles such as 5S, Kaizen, and value stream mapping

CAD/CAM. Proficiency in CAD/CAM software for designing intricate tooling geometries, creating efficient machining tool paths, and simulating manufacturing processes for optimal part production

Benefits Copied

Using a tool and die manufacturing skills matrix template can benefit your teams in various ways. Among them:

• Tool life optimization. By using this skills matrix to identify employees with expertise in tool and die maintenance and sharpening, you can ensure tools are properly cared for and replaced at optimal intervals. This will extend tool life, reduce tooling costs, and maintain consistent part quality over longer production runs
• Rapid setup reduction. A tool and die manufacturing skills matrix also allows you to easily find employees who are capable of quick changeover techniques for CNC machines and fixtures, minimizing downtime and allowing for more frequent production changeovers and increased machine uptime
• Regulatory compliance. By tracking employees’ certification statuses for safety protocols, machine operation, and environmental regulations, you can ensure compliance with industry standards, avoiding costly fines and production shutdowns

Frequently asked question Copied

Author Copied

Wais

With a decade of experience, Wais leads our Customer Success team, providing exceptional customer experiences at AG5. Find him cooking a feast or hosting his podcasts in his spare time.