Careers at DEC Metals
D.E.C. Sheet Metal Inc. is a premier provider of precision sheet and plate processing — advanced laser cutting, CNC punching, bending, and assembly for diverse industries. With over 25 years of excellence, we drive innovation in metal fabrication.
As our operations expand, we're scaling our team with dedicated professionals who share our commitment to craftsmanship and precision. Explore the open role below.
CNC Machinist / HAAS Operator
Safely set up, operate, and control HAAS machining work so DEC produces accurate parts, protects machine productivity, reduces scrap and rework, and meets customer commitments.
Position Summary
The CNC Machinist / HAAS Operator is responsible for producing machined parts on DEC's HAAS equipment, including machines such as the ST20, VF8, VF3YT, SL40, and similar assets as assigned. This person reads job documentation, verifies setup requirements, creates part models, generates part toolpaths, operates the machine safely, checks parts, and communicates issues before they become defects or delays.
The strongest candidate is careful, productive, mechanically curious, and disciplined with first-piece checks — someone who can run equipment efficiently without sacrificing quality, keep the work area organized, and communicate clearly with supervision, programming, and quality.
Primary Accountabilities
Safe Machine Operation
Operate assigned HAAS equipment safely, follow lockout/tagout and handling expectations, and maintain a controlled work area.
Part Quality
Check parts to print, tolerance, finish, and inspection requirements; contain issues immediately when found.
Setup & First-Piece Discipline
Verify tooling, fixtures, offsets, programs, materials, and first-piece quality before continuing production.
Program / Tooling Feedback
Communicate program, tooling, fixture, material, or print concerns to programming, supervision, and quality.
Machine Productivity
Keep assigned machines running productively while reducing avoidable waiting, searching, setup confusion, and downtime.
Documentation Control
Complete job travelers, inspection notes, counts, scrap notes, downtime reasons, and handoff information accurately.
Customer Satisfaction Index
Support customer satisfaction by producing accurate parts, preventing escapes, and communicating problems early.
5S & Equipment Care
Maintain a clean work area, protect tooling and fixtures, and support basic equipment care and preventive checks.
Parts Modeling
Ability to create part models using solid modeling software.
Tool Paths
Ability to generate tool paths using a CAM software package.
Core Responsibilities
- Review job packet, print, revision level, material, routing, quantity, due date, inspection requirements, and special notes before setup.
- Utilize industry-standard software to accurately model parts from customer-provided drawings and create machine toolpaths.
- Set up and operate assigned HAAS machines safely using approved programs, tooling, fixtures, workholding, and setup instructions.
- Perform first-piece checks and in-process inspections using appropriate gauges, calipers, micrometers, indicators, or other tools as required.
- Confirm parts meet dimensional, surface finish, deburring, and customer-specific requirements before releasing work to the next step.
- Monitor machine performance, tooling wear, cycle issues, vibration, coolant, chip control, and part quality during the run.
- Stop and escalate when prints, programs, material, tooling, workholding, or measurements appear incorrect or unsafe.
- Record counts, scrap, rework, downtime, setup issues, and inspection notes accurately in the tracking system.
- Coordinate with programming, quality, material handling, and supervision when a job needs clarity or corrective action.
- Maintain a clean, organized, safe machine area with controlled tools, gauges, fixtures, material, and finished parts.
- Support continuous improvement by recommending setup, tooling, fixturing, deburring, or workflow changes that improve quality and productivity.
Performance KPIs
| # | KPI | What It Measures | Target / Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | First-Pass Yield | Measures whether parts pass first-piece and in-process checks without avoidable rework or repeated adjustment. | 95%+ first-pass acceptance where process is stable; exceptions reviewed by cause. |
| 2 | Setup Time Attainment | Tracks whether setups are completed within planned expectations or delayed by tooling, material, program, fixture, or information issues. | Baseline first 60 days; recurring setup delays documented and reduced. |
| 3 | Machine Runtime / Productive Utilization | Measures productive time on assigned HAAS equipment versus waiting, searching, downtime, or avoidable nonproductive time. | Target set by work center; downtime reason coded and reviewed weekly. |
| 4 | Parts Produced to Standard | Compares completed production to expected cycle, routing, or shop standard while protecting quality. | Meet or exceed approved standard; exceptions documented with reason. |
| 5 | Scrap / Rework Attributable to Operation | Captures avoidable scrap or rework tied to setup, measurement, handling, tooling, or process execution. | Below management threshold; every material or repeat issue escalated promptly. |
| 6 | Safety / 5S / Equipment Care | Confirms safe operation, organized work area, tool control, chip/coolant discipline, and basic machine care. | Zero lost-time incidents; work area maintained to DEC standard each shift. |
| 7 | Customer Satisfaction Index | Captures customer-impacting performance through communication quality, on-time execution, defect prevention, responsiveness, and follow-through. | Baseline in first 60–90 days; target positive trend, 92%+ satisfactory feedback, every detractor reviewed with corrective action. |
Decision Rights & Escalation
Stop work for safety, quality, print, material, tooling, or setup concerns; request first-piece review; adjust within approved setup instructions; maintain work-area standards.
Tooling changes, setup improvements, fixture needs, program adjustments, inspection improvements, training needs, and workflow improvements around assigned equipment.
Program errors, print conflicts, material discrepancies, repeated quality issues, machine alarms or damage, unsafe conditions, and any job that cannot meet requirements as released.
Required Capabilities
- CNC machining or machine operation experience, preferably with HAAS turning or milling equipment.
- Ability to read prints, understand tolerances, identify revision requirements, and measure parts accurately.
- Working knowledge of machine setup, offsets, tooling, fixtures, workholding, feeds/speeds, and safe operation.
- Ability to create a solid model from prints or specifications and process it to generate machine code.
- Disciplined first-piece and in-process inspection habits; willing to stop and ask before producing bad parts.
- Mechanical aptitude and problem-solving ability: tooling wear, chatter, setup movement, burrs, and machine alarms.
- Communication style that is direct, timely, and professional with supervision, programming, quality, and other operators.
- Practical documentation habits — counts, scrap, downtime, inspection notes, and handoffs are completed accurately.
First 90-Day Success Profile
Days 1–30
Learn DEC's HAAS equipment, software packages (CAD/CAM), job packet format, inspection expectations, tooling areas, safety rules, and current operating standards.
Days 31–60
Demonstrate consistent first-piece discipline, accurate documentation, clean handoffs, and reliable setup communication with supervision and quality.
Days 61–90
Operate independently on assigned work; identify recurring setup, tooling, program, or material issues and recommend practical improvements.
Role Fit Summary
Ideal profile: a careful, productive machinist who can run HAAS equipment safely, protect part quality, communicate issues early, and help DEC improve machine productivity without sacrificing customer requirements.
Apply Here
D.E.C. SHEET METAL INC.
3015 Waterfield Cir, Lakeland, FL 33803
(863) 669-0707
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