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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Hoop Maker

💰 $ - $

🎯 Role Definition

A Hoop Maker is a hands-on production specialist responsible for fabricating, assembling and finishing hoops used in cooperage (barrels), industrial rings, frames and decorative applications. This role combines metalworking and woodworking skills, machine setup and operation (roll benders, ring rollers, presses, CNC equipment), welding/brazing, quality inspection and adherence to safety and production standards. The Hoop Maker ensures each hoop meets dimensional tolerances, mechanical strength and surface finish requirements while contributing to continuous improvement and on-time delivery.

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📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Fabrication Assistant / Shop Helper
  • Apprentice Welder or Metalworker
  • Cooperage or Barrel Making Apprentice

Advancement To:

  • Lead Hoop Maker / Senior Fabricator
  • Production Supervisor / Shop Foreman
  • Quality Technician or Manufacturing Engineer
  • Welding/Metal Fabrication Trainer

Lateral Moves:

  • Barrel Cooper
  • Metal Fabricator / Sheet Metal Worker
  • Assembly Technician / Finishing Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Set up, program and operate roll benders, ring rollers, press brakes and CNC forming equipment to manufacture metal and wooden hoops to exact diameters and specified tolerances for barrel, industrial and decorative applications.
  • Read and interpret engineering drawings, work orders, bills of materials and product specifications to determine hoop dimensions, material types, edge conditions and finishing requirements.
  • Measure, mark and cut raw stock (steel strips, stainless, galvanized, wood slats or plastic tubing) using band saws, shear blades, plasma/oxy-fuel cutting or automated cutting systems, maintaining dimensional accuracy to drawing tolerances.
  • Perform welding (MIG/TIG/stick) and brazing on hoop seams and joints, ensuring weld integrity, correct penetration and minimal distortion while adhering to welding procedure specifications.
  • Install and adjust tooling, dies and fixtures for stamping, flanging, crimping and swaging operations; execute trial runs and fine-tune setups to achieve first-piece acceptance and reduce scrap.
  • Operate riveting, pressing and mechanical fastening equipment to assemble hoops to barrels, hoops sets or frame structures, verifying alignment, torque and concentricity.
  • Inspect finished hoops using precision tools (calipers, micrometers, ring gauges, templates) and visual inspection criteria; document inspection results, maintain quality records and segregate non-conforming parts.
  • Apply surface treatments such as galvanizing, powder coat, painting, varnish or sealing per job specs; operate coating booths and curing ovens while monitoring environmental controls.
  • Maintain accurate production documentation, including daily production logs, material usage, scrap reports and batch traceability in ERP/MRP systems.
  • Perform routine preventative maintenance and minor repairs on forming machines, welders and cutting equipment; coordinate scheduled downtime and escalate complex repairs to maintenance teams.
  • Load, position and secure workpieces using hoists, forklifts and clamps while following safe material handling procedures and load limits.
  • Troubleshoot production issues including spring-back, ovality, seam alignment and welding defects; identify root causes and implement corrective actions in partnership with engineering and quality teams.
  • Execute quick-changeovers for short-run or custom hoop orders, minimizing downtime and setup time through standardized tooling and changeover checklists.
  • Verify incoming materials and supplier certifications (material test reports), conduct incoming inspection and quarantine suspect material until dispositioned by quality.
  • Package, label and prepare finished hoop assemblies for shipment according to customer packaging requirements and lot traceability procedures.
  • Participate in continuous improvement initiatives (Kaizen, 5S, DMAIC) to improve process yield, reduce cycle time and lower scrap rates in hoop fabrication operations.
  • Train, coach and mentor junior fabricators and new hires on safe machine operation, measurement techniques and quality expectations to build cross-functional capability.
  • Support production planning by communicating capacity constraints, tooling needs and lead-time estimates for special orders and volume runs.
  • Ensure compliance with OSHA and internal safety policies; conduct pre-shift safety checks, maintain PPE, and report hazards or incidents promptly.
  • Collaborate with purchasing and engineering to recommend cost-effective material alternatives, tooling upgrades and process changes that maintain product performance and reduce unit cost.
  • Liaise with customers or internal stakeholders to resolve non-conformance reports (NCRs), provide technical clarifications and implement corrective action plans when necessary.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
  • Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Proficient in metal forming and hoop fabrication techniques (roll bending, ring rolling, swaging, flanging).
  • Welding skills: MIG, TIG and/or stick welding with demonstrated ability to weld thin and thick sections for circular seams.
  • Experience operating press brakes, punch presses, band saws, hydraulic presses and CNC forming equipment.
  • Strong blueprint reading and geometric dimensioning & tolerancing (GD&T) interpretation skills.
  • Precision measurement and inspection: calipers, micrometers, ring gauges, templates and basic CMM proficiency.
  • Knowledge of material properties and metallurgy for steel, stainless, galvanized metal, and common hardwoods used in hoops.
  • Familiarity with surface finishing processes: galvanizing, powder coating, painting and curing ovens.
  • Basic machine setup, tooling changeover and fixture maintenance experience.
  • Experience with ERP/MRP systems for production reporting, inventory transactions and traceability.
  • Preventative maintenance fundamentals and ability to perform routine mechanical adjustments and troubleshooting.
  • Forklift and hoist operation certifications (preferred) and safe material handling practices.
  • Basic CAD/CAM familiarity for tooling offsets and simple program verification (preferred).
  • Quality systems knowledge: ISO 9001, PPAP, inspection records and NCR processing (preferred).
  • Plasma/oxy-fuel cutting and metal sawing experience for preparation of raw materials.

Soft Skills

  • Excellent attention to detail and a strong quality-first mindset.
  • Problem-solving aptitude with systematic root-cause thinking.
  • Effective verbal and written communication with production, maintenance and quality teams.
  • Team player who collaborates across departments and supports continuous improvement.
  • Time management and the ability to prioritize tasks in a fast-paced production environment.
  • Adaptability to handle changing customer specifications and mixed-production schedules.
  • Instructional ability to train apprentices and document standard work procedures.
  • Safety-oriented attitude and consistent adherence to shop safety protocols.
  • Organizational skills to manage tooling inventories, calibration records and production paperwork.
  • Customer-focused mindset for handling special requests, custom orders and quality feedback.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High school diploma or GED; vocational training or trade school coursework in welding, metal fabrication, or carpentry preferred.

Preferred Education:

  • Technical certificate or associate degree in Welding Technology, Metal Fabrication, Manufacturing Technology or Industrial Maintenance.
  • Certifications such as AWS welding certifications, forklift operator certification or CNC operator certificate are advantageous.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Welding Technology
  • Metal Fabrication / Sheet Metal
  • Manufacturing Technology
  • Industrial Maintenance / Mechanical Technology
  • Carpentry or Woodworking (for wooden hoop applications)

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 1 to 5 years of hands-on experience in metal fabrication, hoop or ring production, cooperage, welding or related shop environments.

Preferred:

  • 3+ years of specialized experience producing hoops, rings or circular fabrications using roll benders, ring rollers and welding processes.
  • Demonstrated record of producing to tight tolerances, working with inspection instruments and participating in continuous improvement initiatives.
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