Mold Maintenance Technician [Level1]
Work-Based Learning Program:
Info for Job Seekers

Did You Know Canada Needs Mold Maintenance Technicians?
HIRING NOW!

Manufacturing is a cornerstone of Canada’s economy. It represents about $168 billion of Canada’s GDP, and manufacturers export more than $293 billion each year. That adds up to lot’s of jobs – actually 1.7 million quality full-time, well-paying jobs—all across the country.

BUT – there is a shortage of highly skilled and knowledgeable Mold Maintenance Technicians across the country. And that’s where we come in. We are the WBLC – and we’ve brought together mold-making and molding companies to solve this challenge. We’ve launched the Mold Maintenance Technician [Level 1] Work-Based Learning Program – a program that helps job seekers learn in-demand skills, get paid on-the-job training, which leads to great stable jobs at Canadian advanced manufacturing companies.

Our partner in developing and delivering this program is the Canadian Association of Mold Makers [CAMM]. Most participating employers are corporate members of CAMM.

Is This the Opportunity You’ve Been Looking For?

Do you like making and building things?
Are you good at assembling things – using tools?
Do you have a good eye for detail?
Do you like getting your hands dirty?
Do you like using your brain and thinking?
Are you OK with math – addition, subtraction, etc.?
Do you enjoy working relatively independently?
Do you want to have responsibility and be accountable?
Are you OK with physical activity?
Are you in good physical shape?
Would you rather be busy most of the time?
Do you like being on your feet all day, doing stuff?

If you can answer “Yes” to almost all these questions, then you might want to consider a career as a
Mold Maintenance Technician.

What Exactly Is Molding? What is a Mold?
And What Does A Mold Maintenance Technician Do?

What Is Molding? – Molding is the process of manufacturing by shaping a liquid or pliable raw material using a rigid frame called a mold, which defines the shape of the manufactured part. Molding can be performed using a wide variety of materials – most commonly, plastics (thermoplastic or thermosetting polymers) but also including metals, glasses, ceramics, elastomers, and confections. Molding is a high-volume manufacturing process for producing thousands, even millions of parts. There are many different types of molding operations – injection molding, blow molding, rotational molding, compression molding, extrusion, etc.

What is a Mold? – A mold is a hollowed-out block (usually made of steel or aluminum) that is filled with a liquid or pliable material such as plastic, glass, metal, or ceramic raw material. The liquid hardens or sets inside the mold, adopting its shape.

What Does A Mold Maintenance Technician [Level 1] Do? – Molding machines and molds must operate properly and repeatedly over many hours and days to ensure that the parts produced meet quality standards and production rates. A Mold Maintenance Technician [Level 1] is responsible for cleaning, assembling and disassembling new and/or refurbished molds so they function properly; s/he will also, as directed, evaluate molds to determine root cause of molding issues, and will check mold functionality for air, water and hydraulic effectiveness.

Videos of Molding Jobs, Machines and Molds – Below are YouTube videos of workplaces, machines, molds and that demonstrate most of points described above and provide a job preview for you:

Introduction to different types of mold processes – 6:08 min.
Extrusion Molding (Aluminum) – 4:08 min.
Injection Molding Overview – 17 min.

Machines, Molds, and Molded Parts

These are some of the machines, molds, and molded parts that are part of the mold-making process

Mold Shoe at Early Stage of Machining

Injection Mold Cavity Half

Injection Mold Core Half

Mold for Automotive Front Grill

Injection Molded Manifold

Automotive Lens

Bottles

Plastic Garden Pots

Apply To WBLC Today

How Does The Program Work?

The Mold Maintenance Technician Work-Based Learning Program is a great opportunity to learn in-demand skills and get a great stable job. The program works like this:

Read the Mold Maintenance Technician Job Overview and Program Overview

We have three documents that will provide you with all the details you need about this job and about the Work-Based Learning program.

It’s a good idea to download these PDF’s and read them carefully to make sure you understand the program and understand what the job entails day-to-day. If you think you have the personality, skills, ambition required – and you’re still interested, then move on to the next step.

Apply to the WBLC Mold Maintenance Technician [Level 1] Work-Based Learning Program

To apply to WBLC and complete the WBLC Online Assessment, please click “Apply to WBLC” below or above.

The WBLC Online Assessment will help you to understand your current aptitudes, attitudes, and personal characteristics. For some people, their natural abilities and talents fit perfectly with the Mold Maintenance Technician job. Hopefully that’s you!

When WBLC has reviewed your completed Online Assessment, Manpower will contact you if you have been selected to proceed to the WBLC Interview process

Go Through the WBLC Interview Process

Manpower will contact you by phone to arrange for an in-person interview to confirm your eligibility for this program and to understand more about your aptitude, attitude, and personal characteristics.

This is an important interview.

They will also speak to you about your availability to travel outside your preferred location for opportunities.

If you pass the WBLC Online Assessment and this WBLC Interview, you are now a Candidate for hiring by an Ontario mold-making or molding company who is participating in this WBLC Work-Based Learning program.

Get Hired by an Ontario Mold-making or Molding Company

Participating companies who are interested in hiring you will invite you for an interview and a tour of the company. Manpower will coordinate your interviews.

An employment interview is a very important one, so you should prepare yourself well and make every effort to present yourself positively.

If the company extends an offer of employment and if you choose to accept – you will now become an employee of the hiring company and a Trainee in the WBLC Mold Maintenance Technician [Level 1] Work-Based Learning Program. That means you will receive a pay cheque from your company while you are learning your new job.

Acquire the Basic Theoretical Knowledge and Basic Practical Skills
(e-Learning + Classroom Learning)

Over approximately 7 months, you will acquire the basic theoretical knowledge and basic practical skills for your job through a combination of:

E-Learning: delivered online at your employer in the earlier months
Classroom training: limited to about 2-3 weeks at an outside location
On the job training: throughout the entire 7 months

The basic theoretical knowledge and basic practical skills (competencies) you will acquire include all the following topics:

Blueprint Reading
Applied Math
Measurement
Materials
Tools and Machines
Overview of Molds
Mold Processing
Electrical, Hydraulic, Cooling and Pneumatic systems
Manufacturing and Mold Terminology
In-process Inspection
Quality Practices
Workplace Safety

Get On-The Job Training to become a Mold Maintenance Technician [Level1]

This part of the program is about 26 weeks. There are very clear industry-developed Technical Learning Outcomes (TLOs) defined for the entire training period.

During your on-the-job training, you will not be on your own to learn the job. There will be a trainer helping you – providing instruction, assistance and direction. Your trainer will review the Technical Learning Outcomes with you and be responsible for making sure you are progressing towards completing them by the end of the on-the-job training period.

Further details on this important phase are in the Mold Maintenance Technician Job Overview pdf (above)

Get Certified by WBLC

As you progress towards the completion of your WBLC program, you have the opportunity to be certified by WBLC as a Mold Maintenance Technician [Level 1]. Certification is a public statement that you have passed and are highly qualified to perform specified duties – in this case, those of a Mold Maintenance Technician [Level 1].

WBLC’s certification process consists of testing and assessing your mastery of the Technical Learning Outcomes for the job and, if acceptable, certifying you as a Mold Maintenance Technician [Level 1] based on:

your successful passing of tests administered during the e-learning and classroom training
demonstrating to our WBLC Assessor that you can carry out mold maintenance operations as per work orders, drawings and process instructions
demonstrating your knowledge of general manufacturing technical practices and procedures and your knowledge of specific technical work practices regarding mold maintenance, via an online examination.

At this point, you will have clear, objective evidence that you are a WBLC Certified Mold Maintenance Technician [Level 1] who can be a productive, valuable, promotable employee and advance your career going forward with your employer by contributing to the greater business success of the company.

The certification will be issued by the Work-Based Learning Consortium and over time will be accepted by many employers as evidence of your capability and expertise.

Ready To Get Started?