Manufacturing Associate

Job Description - Manufacturing Associate

Company Name:

Ward’s Manufacturing, LLC

Job Title:

Manufacturing Associate

Location:

Warren, Rhode Island 02885

Salary:

$20-22/hr, depending on experience

Job Type

: Part-time, hourly pay.

Hours:

Est. 15-25 hours a week. Standard work day is 8:00 am - 4:30 pm with a 30-minute lunch break. Flexibility in hours is allowed.

Work Authorization:

Must be authorized to work in the United States.

Department:

Production

Supervisor:

CEO

About Ward’s Manufacturing

Kiffin and Kelly Ward are sibling co-founders of Ward’s Manufacturing, a metal fabrication company specializing in fiber laser cutting, CNC press brake bending, machining, and part design. We make custom metal parts for customers across a variety of industries, ranging from rocketship components to sports equipment to sculptures. At Ward’s Manufacturing, you will work directly with two founders who can mentor you while you help us grow our small business. We hope you will find it as rewarding as we do to make things our community and country need.

About the Role

We are seeking a Manufacturing Associate to join our team and help us meet our production goals. The Manufacturing Associate’s primary responsibilities will be assisting the CEO and other manufacturing technicians with tasks such as material handling, deburring and cleaning parts, quality control and assurance, packing parts to be ready for shipment, receiving deliveries, and equipment maintenance. You will have the opportunity to learn how to operate the fiber laser cutter, CNC press brake, and automated deburring machine, as well as learn how to review part drawings, machine calibration and set-up, input data from drawing dimensions to form parts, operate and maintain the machines, and ensure part quality.

We are looking for someone with a strong work ethic willing to step up and help with various tasks to help run and grow our small business. There are opportunities for professional development and career advancement, as well as on the job technical training with the latest metal fabrication technology, including a 3kw fiber laser and 10ft. 190 ton press brake.

Responsibilities

- Perform production activities including receiving deliveries, handling sheet and plate metal, operating a vacuum lifter to load metal into the fiber laser, deburring and cleaning metal parts, and packaging and shipping customer orders.

- Operate an automated sanding machine to deburr parts.

- Operate a forklift to move gas canisters, sheet and plate metal, finished goods, and other items.

- Perform routine maintenance and cleaning of equipment and machinery.

- Perform quality control procedures, including First Article Inspection and ensuring accuracy in measurements, angles, and alignment.

- Learn how to operate a fiber laser cutting machine to cut metal sheets into the required form.

- Read job orders and understand flat print drawings to determine specifications, such as materials to be used and fiber laser settings to adjust, and set up the fiber laser accordingly.

- Assist with managing the cut schedule as needed, taking files of sheet nestings created by a supervisor, programing the laser, and completing cut jobs.

- This includes correct selection of cutting parameters, nozzles, assist gas, and other procedures as trained by the supervisor.

- Adjusting cut programs when needed to match job specifications.

- Learn how to operate a press brake to bend laser-cut metal parts per customer specifications.

- Calibrate the press brake at the beginning of each day or after long periods of rest.

- Read and interpret job orders, including drawings and specifications to ensure the correct dimensions and tolerances are met.

- Adjust ram/punch/back gauge locations per process instructions and drawings.

- Check dimensions of laser cut parts before and after bending using calipers, pin/block gauges, digital angle finders, micrometers, dial indicators, height/drop gauges and other precision-measuring instruments.

- Select appropriate tooling, dies, and punches for the job at hand.

- Adjusting bend programs when needed.

- Communicate effectively with other team members to meet production goals.

- Complete and maintain all required documentation.

- Complete all required training programs.

- Follow safety protocols and maintain a clean work area.

- Perform all other duties and tasks as assigned.

Required Qualifications

- Mechanical aptitude.

- Attention to detail and ability to follow instructions accurately.

- Ability to stand or do repetitive movements for extended periods and to lift up to 50 pounds.

- Good teamwork skills.

- Ability to communicate effectively in English (written & oral).

- An independent worker who can be given tasks to complete without constant supervision after initial training.

- Must have own transportation to get to work.

Preferred Qualifications

- Desire to learn the ins and outs of the company and grow with it.

- Experience in a manufacturing or production environment.

- Ability to read and interpret manufacturing drawings and specifications in their flat pattern and bent forms.

- Experience working with precision measuring tools such as calipers, pin/block gauges, and other equipment.

- Knowledge of metal fabrication techniques and materials.

- Good math skills to help understand complex instructions, how schematics work and to make sure items are progressively formed correctly.

- Good troubleshooting and decision making skills.

- Experience operating a fiber laser and/or a press brake.

- Experience with CAD, especially with DXF files.

- Forklift experience.

- Manual machining/machine shop experience.

- Automated sanding machine experience.

- Bridgeport Mill experience.

- Overhead crane experience.

- Knowledge of lean manufacturing principles.

Benefits

- 401k

- On the job technical training with the latest metal fabrication technology, including a 3kw fiber laser and 10ft., 190 ton CNC press brake.

- Opportunities for career advancement.

Diversity

We welcome all backgrounds and encourage you to apply if this role interests and excites you. All applicants will be considered without regard to sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, medical condition, Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Ward’s Manufacturing is an Equal Opportunity Employer.