Die Guy

A little about me: I am a second generation tool and die professional experienced in tooling engineering and technology since 1986.

I was one of 12 people chosen from an applicant pool of 20,000 for the die engineering apprenticeship program. After graduation, I led two game-changing projects:

• Die Standards: Led a team of five over a six month period, tasked with abandoning 75 years of tooling history to save 30% in annual build costs. The effort saved 37% the first year by revolutionizing how automotive dies are designed and built. The standards are still relevant today.

• Automate die design: Led the technology development to automate die design by solid modeling with the goal of reducing vehicle development time. The technology was proven to be production-capable. The technology reduced 240 hours of work down to five text inputs and one mouse click for a tool. For others, the technology reduced six months of work down to one to eight hours. My team demoed this to Jack Smith, then CEO. The project successfully achieved its goal of proving the technology could save a significant amount of critical path time and effort.

I have published nearly 100 articles as a feature author for The Fabricator and American Tool, Die, and Stamping News and as a regular columnist for Stamping Journal and MetalForming Magazine.

I have also served as an expert witness on die and stamping legal issues in both testifying and non-testifying capacities. I am proud to have earned a 100% success record in favor of my plaintiff and defendant clients.

My education credentials includes a BS degree with Magna Cum Laude honors from Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Michigan and entrepreneurship and negotiation strategies seminars at Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management in Evanston, Illinois.

For more information about me, please visit www.linkedin.com/in/timstephens.