Page 33 - MetalForming magazine • December 2022

BY LOUIS A. KREN, SENIOR EDITOR, and BRAD F. KUVIN, EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Following a pandemic-caused hit, U.S. manufacturing has begun a rebound, but this upswing doesn’t mean a return to traditional manual jobs. Instead, offers an October 2022 report from the U.S. Census Bureau, manufacturing employers now need a new kind of worker, one with skills to operate in a highly automated environment. This shift may be open- ing doors to more women, according to Census Bureau data and trends in the manufacturing industry.
Some 2022 facts, according to the bureau:
• Women comprise some 47 percent of the American workforce, with 30 percent working in manufacturing.
• Women in manufacturing hold one of four management positions.
• Women in manufacturing earn on average 16 percent more than the national median annual income for employed women.
Although men still hold the majority (67.9 percent) of U.S. manufacturing jobs, Census Bureau research shows that from 2010 until the pandemic struck in 2020, the share of women in manufacturing jobs rose in every work- ing-age category. In 2021, the numbers returned to pre-Covid levels. And, as manufacturers strive to foster creativity, they have found that gender diversity boosts employee morale and retention. As a result, data show growth of women not only in manufacturing, but also in STEM-related fields—skills increasingly
required by manufacturing employers as automation increases.
To recognize the increasing role of women in manufacturing and to spur continued advances, MetalForming magazine, in conjunction with the Pre- cision Metalforming Association (PMA) and with the support of the Women in Manufacturing Association (WiM), pres- ents its Seventh Annual Women of Excel- lence (WoE) in Metal Forming and Fab- ricating Awards. From scores of entries in 2022, we recognize 35 honorees in leadership positions and on the shop floor, representing dedication to their company and the industry, and demon- strating excellence day in and day out.
“While women make up only about one-third of the U.S. manufacturing industry workforce, for many compa- nies they fill a variety of critical roles,” says Brad Kuvin, MetalForming editorial director, “from working on the produc- tion line to filling a variety of manage- ment roles to running their own man- ufacturing businesses. In this issue of MetalForming, we explore, for our sev- enth year running, the role of women in metal forming and fabricating facil- ities and recognize their achievements.
Recognizing all women
in metal forming and fabricating, and in particular these 35 Women of Excellence honorees.
The 2022 WoE class provides excellent examples and inspiration for those who may follow in their footsteps.”
As MetalForming’s parent organiza- tion, PMA actively seeks to promote manufacturing opportunities for women while recognizing their skills, as does WiM, an organization that grew out of PMA’s commitment to these efforts.
“Congratulations to the 2022 class of MetalForming magazine’s Women of Excellence in Metal Forming and Fab- ricating winners, who exemplify the ingenuity, grit and passion held by so many women in industry,” says Allison Grealis, WiM president and founder. “We are excited to celebrate the accom- plishments of this year’s group of hon- orees, and we hope that their stories inspire future women to pursue careers in this industry and current women in industry to aspire to great things.”
Read on for profiles of these 35 hon- orees, along with quotes describing why they feel fulfilled in manufacturing careers and providing encouragement for young women who may follow in their footsteps. For more on the hon- orees, provided by their nominators, visit www.metalformingmagazine.com.
About the Women in Manufacturing Association
The Women in Manufacturing Association (WiM) is a national and global trade association dedicated to supporting, promoting and inspiring women who have cho- sen a career in the manufacturing industry. It provides year-round support to more than 15,000 individual members representing more than 2000 manufacturing companies from 48 U.S. states and 40 countries. WiM encompasses manufacturers of all types and welcomes individuals from every job function—from production to the C-suite. Membership is available to anyone working within or with the manufacturing sector. For more, visit www.womeninmanufacturing.org.
30 MetalForming/December 2022
www.metalformingmagazine.com