72101 Tool and die makers

What this occupation covers

Tool and die makers make, repair and modify custom-made, prototype or special tools, dies, jigs, fixtures and gauges using various metals, alloys and plastics which require precise dimensions. They are employed primarily in manufacturing industries such as automobile, aircraft, metal fabrication, electrical machinery and plastics, and in tool and die, mould making and machine shops. This unit group also includes metal patternmakers and metal mould makers. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.

Official main duties

The NOC profile lists 12 main duties for this code.

• Read and interpret engineering drawings and specifications of tools, dies, prototypes or models
• Prepare templates and sketches, and determine work processes
• Compute dimensions and tolerances and set up machine tools
• Position, secure, measure and work metal stock or castings to lay out for machining
• Set up, operate and maintain a variety of conventional and computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine tools to cut, turn, mill, plane, drill, bore, grind or otherwise shape workpiece to prescribed dimensions and finish
• Verify machined parts for conformance to specifications using precision measuring instruments such as verniers, callipers, micrometers, coordinate measuring machines (CMM) and electronic measuring devices
• Fit and assemble or disassemble parts using hand tools
• Test completed tools, dies, jigs or fixtures for proper operation
• May program CNC machine tools.
• Machine, fit and assemble castings and other parts to make precision models of required shape such as metal patterns, core boxes and match plates
• Machine, fit and assemble parts to make metal moulds and cores for plastic injection moulding, or other production processes
• Lay out, shape and assemble patterns of metal, wood, plastic and other materials from blueprints, models or templates

Do not copy these lines into your reference letter. The letter has to describe what you actually did, in your employer’s words. DUTYPROOF flags wording lifted from the NOC as something to review, and an officer reading a letter that mirrors the NOC reads it the same way.

What DUTYPROOF screens for

This is DUTYPROOF’s screening threshold, not IRCC’s decision. For this NOC, screening requires at least 2 of its 12 official duties to be evidenced in your own words, plus the required letter elements. IRCC asks that you performed the actions in the occupation’s lead statement and a substantial number of its main duties — so treat the duty coverage as the number that matters, not the badge.

Codes this one is confused with

The NOC profile names these itself. Choosing the wrong code of a look-alike pair is the most common way genuine work experience fails to establish eligibility.

• 94101 Foundry workers
• 94106 Machining tool operators
• 72100 Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors
• 72010 Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations

Excluded from this code

• Foundry workers (See 94101 Foundry workers)
• Machining tool operators (See 94106 Machining tool operators)
• Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors (See 72100 Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors)
• Metal mould and metal patternmakers supervisor (See 72010 Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations)
• Tool and die makers supervisor (See 72010 Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations)

Job titles filed under this code

A title on this list does not by itself put your experience in this code — the duties in your letter decide that.

aircraft jig and template maker · aircraft jig and tool maker · apprentice tool and die maker · bench die cutter · bench die fitter · bench die sinker · bench jig maker · bench stamping die maker · bench tool maker · carbide tool maker · diamond saw maker · diamond tool maker · die cutter · die cutter - metalworking · die finisher · die fitter · die maker · die maker - jewellery · die mouldmaker · die reamer · die repairer · die repairman/woman · die sinker · die sinker - metalworking

Employment requirements

• Completion of secondary school is usually required.
• Completion of a four- or five-year tool and die making apprenticeship program or A combination of over five years of work experience in the trade and some high school, college or industry courses in tool and die making is usually required to be eligible for tool and die trade certification.
• Tool and die maker trade certification is available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia.
• Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified tool and die makers upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
• Mould makers usually require completion of a four-year apprenticeship or college program in mould making.
• Trade certification for mould makers is available, but voluntary, in Quebec and Ontario.
• Patternmakers usually require completion of an apprenticeship or college program in patternmaking.
• Patternmaking trade certification is available, but voluntary, in Ontario.