Diecasting machine operator apprenticeship

JONES & WILKINSON LTD

WEST MIDLANDS (WV12 5QU)

Closes in 13 days (Wednesday 16 September 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 2 September 2026

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Summary

This job will be to operate and maintain die casting machinery. Your primary responsibility is to ensure that the machines and robots operate safely and efficiently, producing high-quality castings according to specifications.

You must be 18+ due to insurance purposes.

Wage

£20,020 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Please note the wage will increased to £12.71 after completion of the first year, along with weekly working hours increasing to 43.5. Total salary thereafter - £28,750.

Training course
Lean manufacturing operative (level 2)
Hours
Monday - Thursday 8.00am - 5.00pm, Fridays 12.30pm finish.

38 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Monday 21 September 2026

Duration

1 year

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

Key Duties:

Machine Operation:

  • Monitor the production process
  • Keep melting pots topped up
  • Make necessary adjustments relating to injection pressure, cycle time and cooling parameters to ensure product quality
  • Change tools
  • Set machines
  • Basic maintenance on tools

Die preparation:

  • Start-up diecast machines
  • Be able to install and secure dies on the machines safely, ensuring proper alignment and functioning

Quality Control:

  • Implement quality control measures to identify and address issues promptly
  • Measure for defective parts
  • Follow and comply with ISO9001 company quality standards
  • Maintenance and housekeeping

Where you'll work

EZEKIAL LANE
SHORT HEATH
WILLENHALL
WEST MIDLANDS
WV12 5QU

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

IN-COMM TRAINING AND BUSINESS SERVICES LIMITED

Training course

Lean manufacturing operative (level 2)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Work safely at all times, complying with health and safety legislation, regulations, and other relevant guidelines. Identifying risks within their processes and support/carry out countermeasure activities to improve safe working. Manage tooling, equipment and materials daily in-line with supplier standards e.g. COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health)
  • Comply with environmental procedures and systems and contribute to the achievement of specific standards e.g. ISO 14001 or other relevant environmental standards and use the 4R’s (Reduce, Re-use, Recycle, Recover) where possible
  • Demonstrate their ability to carry out their role effectively, efficiently and flexibly maintaining lean manufacturing principles to meet customer’s demands e.g. JIT
  • Demonstrate their skill and knowledge following SOPs and building their versatility across a number of processes and process areas. Select and use appropriate tools, equipment and materials to carry out the manufacturing operation
  • Demonstrate appropriate process documentation control. Accurately completing check sheets, monitoring process and equipment data efficiently and legibly using the correct terminology required to meet the quality standard e.g. ISO 9002
  • Demonstrate their ability to identify and resolve problems within the lean manufacturing environment using effective problem solving tools and techniques. Manage problems that may occur during the manufacturing process within the limits of their responsibility and escalate as appropriate
  • Generate ideas and contribute to process improvement activities individually or as part of a team through fact finding and analysis to improve the safety, environment, quality, cost or production process. Identifying and eliminating the 7 wastes (defects, over production, transportation, waiting, inventory, motion and processing)
  • Demonstrate communication skills which include oral, written, electronic (PC), information boards or visual displays to effectively share information
  • Maintains and monitors the work site efficiently and effectively at all times using the elements of sifting, sorting, sweeping, spick & span (5’s) within the lean manufacturing environment
  • Check components for damage and that they are in a usable condition
  • Correctly position, align and secure the components
  • Secure the components in position using the specified fastening device/method
  • Obtain and follow the correct Job instructions/Standard operating procedures production/assembly specifications in accordance with time constraints and the roles and responsibilities identified for the production/assembly activity
  • Produce components which comply with the specification and quality requirements
  • Carryout quality checks on component parts and completed assemblies and deal with quality concerns and defects in line with their responsibility
  • Obtain and follow the correct Job instructions, inspection/quality procedures and product specifications in accordance with time constraints and the roles and responsibilities identified for the inspection/quality assurance activity
  • Collect production samples at the required frequency in accordance with inspection specification and operating procedures
  • Carryout inspection and testing activities using the specified methods and equipment
  • Prepare, Handle, transfer and store samples safely and correctly in accordance with quality control procedures
  • Accurately interpret the data/results gained from the inspection and testing procedures being used
  • Record and report inspection findings to relevant person
  • Safely move materials to the correct location using the relevant equipment
  • Obtain and follow the correct Job instructions, specification details and specific transfer/handling procedures in accordance with time constraints and the roles and responsibilities identified for the logistic/material handling activity
  • Move materials using the appropriate procedures, ensuring the materials are correct, safely loaded and secure.
  • Check materials selected to be moved are in line with job requirements
  • Carryout quality checks on materials that are to be moved and deal with quality concerns and damage in line with their responsibility
  • Return equipment to its correct location on completion of the activities and leave it in a safe and usable condition
  • Perform one processing/finishing operation method e.g. hand processing, manually operated machine processing, fully automated machine processing, combined processing
  • Obtain and follow the correct Job instructions, processing/finishing procedures and equipment operating procedures in accordance with time constraints and the roles and responsibilities identified for the processing/finishing activity
  • Perform the processing/finishing operation according to instructions and safe operating procedures
  • Monitor and control the processing/finishing operation
  • Produce processed/finished products which comply with processing specification

Training schedule

This is a level 2 Lean Manufacturing Operative Apprenticeship delivered over a duration of 12-months. The apprentice will be required to attend the training centre, In-Comm Training and Business Services, Aldridge, Walsall, WS9 8UG 1-day per week.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English and Maths (grade 4)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • IT skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Number skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience
  • Physical fitness
  • Collaboration

About this employer

Jones and Wilkinson have been making tools and diecasting since 1965 and are now managed by the 3rd generation of Wilkinson. We have expanded steadily and now occupy 4 units in Ezekiel Lane, Willenhall in the heart of the black country.

In 2018 we began a partnership with the Swedish diecasting company Gjuteriteknik (GT for short) , becoming part of the GT family of diecasting companies around Europe.

We appreciate the need to attract young people to the company which is essential for the future continuation of the business. We believe in investing in people, offering apprenticeships and training from machine and equipment suppliers.

Employees also have the opportunity to spend time in Sweden at the GT factory to learn new manufacturing methods.

https://www.jonesandwilkinson.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

Travel to Germany (French Hot-Chamber Die Casting Seminar) and Sweden (visit Gjuteritenik, our partners in Varnamo, Sweden.

After this apprenticeship

Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).

Potential progression to foundry manager in the long term (9-years).

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

IN-COMM TRAINING AND BUSINESS SERVICES LIMITED

Alex Jones

AlexJ@in-comm.co.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000051048.

Apply now

Closes in 13 days (Wednesday 16 September 2026 at 11:59pm)