Page 62 - MetalForming October 2013
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Special Report—
There’s no better cure for the vast and widening U.S. manufactur- ing-workforce gap than to attract more women to the cause. During the economic recovery of the last three years, women have not shared in manufactur- ing job gains. From January 2010 to Feb- ruary 2013, men gained 535,000 jobs in the manufacturing sector while women actually lost 18,000 jobs.
Up to the task of attracting talented women to the manufacturing workforce isWomeninManufacturing(WIM).This organization is on a mission to provide women working in manufacturing with
BY BRAD F. KUVIN, EDITOR
a forum for networking, to establish mentoring relationships and improve their leadership and communication skills. As a group, these leading ladies promise to support WIM’s goals of attracting and retaining women into the manufacturing workforce, and to help ensure they’re provided opportunities for advancement.
WIM began in 2009 as a small group of Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) members meeting to discuss best practices and business conditions. It has since blossomed into a membership organization of more than 300 women.
The organization, now a sister to PMA, produces year-round networking oppor- tunities, quarterly e-newsletters and an online directory. PMA’s investment in and nurturing of such a cause mirrors the activities of many manufacturing companies who have come to realize the importance of seeding and nurturing a diverse workforce—comprising not only women, but every minority.
Progressive, Diverse and Inclusive
Case in point: the PDI (Progressive, Diverse and Inclusive) program at
Three women in different stages of their manufacturing careers share their enlightening and inspiring stories of success, leading up to the Women in Manufacturing Summit, October 22-23, 2013, in Dearborn, MI.
More than 200 women attended the Women in Manufacturing Summit 2012, taking advantage of numerous opportunities to network, share experiences and learn from each other.
60 MetalForming/October 2013 www.metalformingmagazine.com
