Page 60 - MetalForming October 2012

Surely, attracting more women to manufacturing could solve the skills shortage plaguing U.S. man- ufacturing. Hundreds of thousands of skilled manufacturing jobs are available throughout the United States. Two- thirds of American manufacturing companies need to hire additional skilled workers, and more than half expect the shortage to grow worse in the next three to five years.
But there’s more to this picture. Imagine women rising through the ranks within our manufacturing oper- ations to take on leadership roles. Diversity at the top could significantly and positively alter the way compa- nies relate to each other throughout the supply chains, and dramatically impact corporate culture within U.S. companies.
While women represent close to 50 percent of the U.S. workforce, only 30 percent of the 14 million Americans employed in manufacturing are women. Simply: We must attract more
BY BRAD F. KUVIN, EDITOR
women to manufacturing. What’s keep- ing them away? A recent survey offers several reasons, including a lack of quality science and math education programs, and the presence of persist- ent stereotypes that say careers in tech- nology, engineering and manufacturing are simply not for women.
One recent study found that more than 70 percent of people around the world associate males with science, and females with the arts. This belief, despite the fact that elementary-school girls now earn higher grades in math and science than do boys, certainly deters girls and women from pursu- ing opportunities in engineering and manufacturing. And it too often dis- courages parents from lobbying their daughters to pursue these opportuni- ties. Whether we want to admit it, we are limiting the career opportunities offered to women.
PMA’s Annual Women
in Manufacturing Summit
To attract more women into the manufacturing fold, in 2009 the Preci- sion Metalforming Association (PMA), Cleveland, OH, launched Women in Manufacturing (WIM), to bring thought leaders together to discuss best prac- tices, business conditions and unique challenges and needs as minorities in the field. Under the WIM banner, PMA provides year-round networking oppor-
tunities, mentoring programs, a quar- terly e-newsletter and an online direc- tory. And, of course, the annual Women in Manufacturing Summit, which this year will be held October 29-30, in Mil- waukee, WI. At this annual networking and educational event, women in man- ufacturing network with their peers, share perspectives and discuss lead- ership and communication skills.
This year’s summit event kicks off on Monday, October 29, with a local plant tour. Track sessions begin at 1:30 p.m. with a discussion on project and risk management, led by JoAnn Mitchell from Sandvik Coromant, and a session on talent attraction and retention with Marni Hockenberg, Hockenberg Search. Later that afternoon, track sessions address:
• Sustaining Business in Tough Eco- nomic Times; Laurie Harbour, Harbour Results
• Negotiating from a Woman’s Per- spective
A welcome reception, networking dinner and keynote presentation closes out Monday’s agenda. Monday evening’s keynote speaker is Gayle Tauber, founder (along with her husband, Phillip) of natural/nutritious food man- ufacturer Kashi Company. Gayle and Phillip are entrepreneurs at heart, hav- ing launched their first business togeth- er in 1973 in Southern California, pop- ularizing indoor plants and trees in the
58 MetalForming/October 2012
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Conversations with women that have occupied leadership roles within their manufacturing companies share insights into the differences in management styles between men and women—women nurture, collaborate and “‘power with’ rather than ‘power on.’”