Apprentice Milling Machine Operator Jobs in Kentucky

Description

The Machine Shop Supervisor will oversee all machining operations at a large-scale electric motor repair facility with 60 total employees at full capacity. This hands-on supervisory role is responsible for leading a team of machinists, managing precision machining work on motor components, maintaining equipment, ensuring quality standards, and meeting production schedules for shaft repair, housing machining, and related operations critical to motor repair. 

Pending Start Date: December 2026

Key Responsibilities:

• Team Leadership & Supervision
• Directly supervise 5-10 machinists, including journeyman machinists, CNC operators, and apprentices
• Assign daily work orders and prioritize jobs based on production schedule and urgency
• Train and develop machinists in motor repair-specific machining techniques
• Conduct performance evaluations and provide ongoing coaching
• Manage attendance, scheduling, and overtime for the machine shop
• Mentor apprentice machinists through structured skill development
• Foster a culture of precision, quality craftsmanship, and continuous improvement
• Machining Operations Management

Shaft Machining & Repair:

• Oversee shaft turning, grinding, and straightening operations
• Direct shaft repair including metal spraying (thermal spray, flame spray, arc spray)
• Manage shaft installation and machining
• Coordinate shaft chrome plating and precision grinding
• Ensure proper bearing journal dimensions and surface finish
• Oversee keyway cutting, milling, and repair operations

Housing & Frame Machining:

• Manage bearing housing boring and line boring operations
• Oversee endbell machining and bore diameter corrections
• Direct housing face machining for proper alignment
• Coordinate bolt hole drilling and tapping
• Manage housing bushing installation and machining
• Component Fabrication:
• Oversee manufacturing of custom motor components (spacers, brackets, adapters)
• Direct fabrication of specialized tooling and fixtures
• Manage fan machining and balancing
• Coordinate pulley and coupling machining

Precision Work:

• Ensure proper tolerances for bearing fits (typically +0.0000/-0.0005")
• Verify shaft runout specifications (typically 0.001-0.002" TIR)
• Monitor surface finish requirements for bearing journals (16-32 micro-inch)
• Oversee alignment and concentricity requirements

Quality Assurance:

• Inspect machined components to ensure dimensional accuracy and surface finish
• Verify tolerances using precision measuring instruments:
• Micrometers, dial indicators, bore gauges
• Height gauges, depth gauges, thread gauges
• Optical comparators and CMM (Coordinate Measuring Machine) when available
• Review blueprints and specifications before machining operations
• Approve first-piece inspections on critical operations
• Investigate machining defects and implement corrective actions
• Ensure proper documentation of all machining work
• Maintain calibration schedules for precision measuring equipment
• Monitor scrap rate and rework requirements

Equipment & Facility Management:

• Oversee operation and maintenance of machine shop equipment including:
• Engine lathes and CNC lathes (various sizes for different shaft diameters)
• Vertical and horizontal machines
• Drill presses and radial arm drills
• Surface grinders and cylindrical grinders
• Boring mills and line boring equipment
• Metal spraying equipment (arc spray, flame spray)
• Shaft straightening press
• Welding equipment (for shaft buildup)
• Band saws and cut-off equipment
• Balancing machines
• Coordinate preventive maintenance schedules
• Manage tooling inventory (cutting tools, inserts, drill bits, end mills, boring bars)
• Select and procure cutting tools and machining supplies
• Ensure proper coolant maintenance and chip removal systems
• Identify needs for equipment upgrades or replacement
• Maintain shop cleanliness and organization (5S methodology)

Production Planning & Coordination:

• Work with Production Manager to meet departmental delivery commitments
• Estimate machining time for job quotes and scheduling
• Prioritize work based on critical path and customer requirements
• Coordinate with other departments:
• Disassembly (receiving damaged components)
• Winding (shaft straightness requirements)
• Assembly (component availability)
• Testing (final dimensional verification)
• Manage outside machining services 
• Track work-in-progress and bottlenecks
• Communicate delays or technical issues promptly

Safety & Compliance:

• Enforce machine shop safety protocols and OSHA regulations
• Ensure proper machine guarding and safety devices are functional
• Require use of appropriate PPE (safety glasses, hearing protection, steel-toed boots)
• Monitor safe operation of overhead cranes and lifting equipment
• Ensure proper handling of heavy components (shafts, housings, armatures)
• Conduct regular safety inspections and toolbox talks
• Investigate accidents and near-misses; implement preventive measures
• Ensure proper chip and coolant handling procedures
• Maintain clean floors free of oil, coolant, and metal chips
• Ensure proper ventilation for metal spraying and welding operations
• Manage hazardous waste disposal (cutting fluids, oils, metal shavings)

Technical Problem-Solving:

• Troubleshoot complex machining challenges
• Determine repair feasibility for damaged components
• Recommend repair vs. replacement decisions
• Design custom fixtures and work-holding solutions
• Collaborate with engineers on non-standard repairs
• Provide technical expertise on material properties and machining methods
• Interface with customers on technical machining questions

Documentation & Communication:

• Maintain accurate machining records and inspection reports
• Document non-standard repairs and special procedures
• Create and update machining process sheets
• Report daily production metrics to Production Manager
• Communicate job status and technical issues
• Update production schedule with actual completion times
• Maintain drawing files and specification documents

Requirements

Education & Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent; technical school or apprenticeship program preferred
• Minimum 7-10 years of hands-on machining experience
• At least 5 years in motor repair or heavy industrial machining environment
• Minimum 3-5 years in supervisory or lead machinist position
• Journeyman machinist certification or equivalent experience
• Background in precision machining and tight tolerance work
• Technical Expertise

Essential Machining Skills:

• Expert-level proficiency in manual lathe operation for shaft turning
• Grinding experience for precision bearing journals
• Boring operations for bearing housings
• Blueprint reading and geometric dimensioning & tolerancing (GD&T)
• Understanding of feeds, speeds, and cutting tool selection
• Knowledge of various materials (carbon steel, stainless, bronze, cast iron)

Our Benefits!

• #1 CULTURE!!!
• Fun, Family-Oriented Work Environment!
• Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits that begin on your 1st day of work!
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
• Company Paid Life, Dependent Life, Short- & Long-Term Disability Insurance
• 10 Paid Holidays per year
• Vacation & Personal Time
• Employer HSA Contribution
• Company Paid Bereavement Time
• Company Paid Maternity and Paternity Leave
• Gym Reimbursement

Are you an underappreciated, hard worker? Come see why AHP was voted a Nationally Certified "Great Place to Work"!

AHP is an Equal Opportunity Employer