LIVE ONLINE COURSE

TOOLING DESIGN ENGINEER

Dates: 18 NOV 2026 - 1 FEB 2027

Duration: 9 WEEKS
MONDAYS & WEDNESDAYS
4:30 PM PT / 7:30 PM ET

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ASHEA WILLIAMS
GENERAL MOTORS

LIVE ONLINE COURSE

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Every production line depends on tooling that gets it right the first time.

Join Ashea Williams, Senior Die Cast Tooling Engineer at General Motors, to learn how to transform engineering intent into manufacturable, reliable solutions that keep automotive production moving.

THIS COURSE IS FOR YOU, IF...

YOU ARE AN AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURING ENGINEER

You know the pressure of keeping production moving — every tooling issue, defect, or delay costs time and money. This automotive tooling design course helps you think beyond the fixture itself, showing you how to design tooling that supports faster cycle times, reduces risk before launch, and works seamlessly on the shop floor. Learn to solve problems before they become downtime.
YOU ARE A CAD MECHANICAL DESIGNER

Your CAD models may look flawless on screen, but real manufacturing demands far more than clean geometry. Learn how experienced tooling engineers design fixtures that account for tolerances, material behavior, manufacturability, and assembly constraints. You'll leave with production-ready design skills that transform digital models into tooling engineers can actually build and use.
YOU ARE A TOOLING ENGINEER OR PROJECT LEAD

You're responsible for delivering tooling that performs under production pressure, not just at design review. We’ll show you how to build complete engineering packages, control tolerances and part location, and make design decisions that stand up to OEM expectations. Strengthen your technical expertise while creating portfolio-ready deliverables that demonstrate you're ready to lead complex tooling programs.

COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM

Master the full tooling design workflow, from CAD fundamentals and GD&T to production systems, sustainability, and quality inspection. Every class builds practical engineering skills you'll use to design tooling that's ready for the realities of automotive manufacturing.

CASE STUDIES, WORKSHOPS & DEMOS

Learn by solving real automotive tooling challenges through hands-on workshops, engineering demos, and industry case studies. You'll redesign production tooling, validate GD&T, simulate toolpaths, evaluate manufacturing processes, and explore real failures alongside proven engineering solutions.

FINAL PROJECT

Design a production-ready Welding & Assembly Fixture for an automotive Body-in-White component and build the kind of engineering package employers expect to see. Finish the course with a portfolio-ready tooling design project that reflects real industry standards.

ASHEA WILLIAMS LINKEDIN PROFILE

Leads Die Cast Tooling Engineering at General Motors, driving manufacturing innovation and process excellence across global production programs.
Brings 30+ years of engineering experience spanning tooling design, manufacturing, automation, industrial engineering, and sales engineering across the automotive and tooling industries.
Developed lean manufacturing solutions as a GM Subject Matter Expert, backed by Six Sigma Black Belt Master and Red X Statistical Engineer certifications.
Delivered award-winning engineering innovations, including GM's Chairman's Honor Award and the People Make Quality Happen – Best of the Best Award for solving complex manufacturing challenges.
Designed and launched groundbreaking automation systems, from patented equipment concepts to large-scale plant automation projects that set new company benchmarks.
Mentors the next generation of engineers through STEM robotics, Get WISE, Girls in Engineering & Manufacturing (GEMs), and other initiatives promoting careers in engineering and manufacturing.

WED (11/18), 4:30 PM PT/7:30 PM ET

Introduction to Automotive Tooling Design

Explore the automotive tooling ecosystem, manufacturing workflow, and the critical role tooling plays in high-volume vehicle production from concept through manufacturing.

Types of automotive tooling
Role of tooling in automotive production
Automotive manufacturing workflow
Suggested reference books reading
Group activity: Continue self-analysis

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MON (11/23), 4:30 PM PT/7:30 PM ET

CAD Fundamentals for Automotive Tooling

Learn CAD best practices for building production-ready tooling assemblies using industry-standard modeling techniques, constraints, and tolerancing.

CAD workflows for tooling design
Assemblies, constraints, tolerance integration
Common modeling pitfalls in tooling
Demo: Automotive fixture assembly

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WED (11/25), 4:30 PM PT/7:30 PM ET

GD&T & Tolerancing in Automotive Tooling

Master engineering drawings, GD&T principles, and tolerance stack-up methods to create tooling that meets automotive production requirements.

Reading automotive blueprints
GD&T fundamentals
Tolerance stack-ups
Workshop: GD&T validation exercise

Assignment 1: Tooling Input Analysis & Datuming Strategy
Analyze an automotive component drawing to define the 3-2-1 datuming strategy, locating features, and clamping layout for repeatable production. Submit a marked-up engineering study with technical justification.

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MON (11/30), 4:30 PM PT/7:30 PM ET

Tool Materials & Manufacturing Processes

Discover how tooling materials, coatings, and manufacturing processes influence durability, performance, and production costs across automotive applications.

Steels, coatings, heat treatments
High-volume manufacturing methods
Case study: Material selection for stamping die
Demo: Material and finish comparison

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WED (12/2), 4:30 PM PT/7:30 PM ET

Fixtures & Jigs for Automotive Machining

Design reliable locating and clamping systems that improve machining accuracy, repeatability, and production efficiency.

Locating and clamping for repeatability
Designing for cycle time reduction
Workshop: Fixture design
Peer review of workshop design

Assignment 2: 3D CAD Tooling Mechanism Design (Locating & Clamping)
Build the primary locating and clamping mechanisms for your fixture using commercial hardware and custom components. Submit a complete 3D CAD assembly.

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MON (12/7), 4:30 PM PT/7:30 PM ET

CAM & CNC Integration for Tooling

Understand how tooling designs move from CAD to manufacturing through CAM workflows, CNC machining, and design-for-manufacturability principles.

CAM workflows
Multi-axis machining
Design for manufacturability
Workshop: Toolpath simulation

Assignment 3: 2D Tooling Assembly Drawing & Bill of Materials (BOM)
Produce a manufacturing drawing package with tolerances, assembly views, and a complete bill of materials for your tooling assembly.

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WED (12/16), 4:30 PM PT/7:30 PM ET

Tool Maintenance & Lifecycle Management

Learn how to maximize tooling lifespan through preventive maintenance, lifecycle planning, and data-driven performance monitoring.

Wear in high-cycle automotive environments
Preventive maintenance strategies
Cost vs lifecycle optimization
Tracking and charting
Case study: Die refurbishment

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MON (1/4), 4:30 PM PT/7:30 PM ET

Automotive Production Systems

Evaluate how tooling supports lean manufacturing by improving efficiency, reducing waste, and meeting production targets.

Lean manufacturing and takt time
Tooling impact on production efficiency
Workshop: Analyze tooling within a production line

Assignment 4: Manufacturing Process Plan & PFMEA Summary
Develop a manufacturing process plan and PFMEA summary that evaluates operator workflow, tooling risks, and preventive maintenance strategies.

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MON (1/11), 4:30 PM PT/7:30 PM ET

Plastic & Interior Component Tooling

Design tooling for automotive plastic and interior components with a focus on precision, surface quality, and production reliability.

Injection molding
Surface finish and precision requirements
Demo: Automotive plastic component tooling

Final Project: Professional Automotive Tooling Design Pack
Develop a portfolio-ready tooling package for a production welding and assembly fixture used in an automotive Body-in-White (BIW) application. Throughout the course, you'll refine your assignments into a complete engineering release that includes datuming strategy, 3D CAD assembly, manufacturing drawings, BOM, and production readiness documentation.

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MON (2/1), 4:30 PM PT/7:30 PM ET

Course Wrap-Up & Career Pathways

Consolidate your learning by reviewing key concepts, presenting your final project, and exploring career opportunities across the automotive tooling industry.