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Job Description

Overview

The Manufacturing Associate is responsible for the safe and efficient setup and operation of CNC Turret Punch and Press Brake machines used in sheet metal fabrication, ensuring parts are produced accurately and efficiently according to engineering drawings and quality standards.

Responsibilities

  • Set up, operate, and monitor CNC Turret Punch and Press Brake machines to produce precision sheet metal components.
  • Load raw materials and unload finished components using appropriate material-handling equipment.
  • Read and interpret blueprints, shop drawings, bend specifications, and work instructions.
  • Verify CNC programs, machine settings, tooling, and material specifications before production runs.
  • Perform first-piece and in-process inspections to ensure quality, dimensional accuracy, and proper bend angles.
  • Adjust machine parameters, punching tools, and press brake tooling to maintain tolerances and productivity.
  • Meet production targets while minimizing material waste, scrap, and machine downtime.
  • Follow OSHA/MIOSHA standards and company safety policies at all times.
  • Use proper PPE and follow safe work practices when operating machinery and handling sheet metal.
  • Conduct daily equipment safety checks and report unsafe conditions or equipment concerns.
  • Perform routine machine checks, tooling inspections, and basic preventive maintenance.
  • Troubleshoot and resolve basic machine, tooling, and production issues to minimize interruptions.
  • Document production data, downtime, and quality checks in company systems, and collaborate with maintenance technicians on repairs and equipment improvements.

Requirements

  • High school diploma or equivalent required.
  • 2+ years of experience operating CNC fabrication equipment preferred.
  • Experience with CNC Turret Punch and Press Brake machines strongly preferred.
  • Ability to read blueprints and use precision measuring tools, including calipers, tape measures, and angle gauges.
  • Strong mechanical aptitude, attention to detail, and understanding of sheet metal fabrication processes.
  • Basic computer skills and familiarity with CNC machine controls.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Benefits

  • 401k
  • Health Insurance
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • PTO

Additional Information

  • Work Location: In person

Benefits

401k
Health Insurance
Dental
Vision
PTO
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How this job compares in Plainwell, MI

Pay in context

At roughly $18/hr, this posting comes in about 28% below the $25/hr median for welding jobs across Michigan, where the middle half runs $22–$28/hr across 54 postings with published pay. Put another way, it pays more than about 0% of the comparable postings we have wage data for. That gap is worth raising directly — in a market this size there is normally room to negotiate toward the median, particularly if you already hold the certifications the posting asks for.

The local market in Plainwell, MI

This is the only active welding job we're currently tracking in Plainwell, MI, which makes it worth moving on quickly — there is no local competing offer to weigh it against. Across Michigan as a whole we're tracking 84 other active welding openings from 68 employers. Browse welding jobs across Michigan.

The most active employers in Michigan at the moment, by number of open welding reqs, are Qualified Staffing (8), Welding Shop in Detroit, MI (5), and Fabcon Precast (3). Volume like that usually means either a genuine expansion or a staffing agency working several client sites — worth knowing which before you apply.

Similar openings near Plainwell, MI

Pay figures are medians computed from live postings in the Welding Pros index, not from survey data, and they move as employers post. Manufacturing Associate (Fabrication) figures were last recalculated when this page was built.