Page 39 - MetalForming-Dec-2018-issue

BY LOUIS A. KREN, SENIOR EDITOR, and JOE JANCSURAK, ASSOCIATE EDITOR
In 2015, one year before MetalForming launched its Women of Excellence awards, women in manufacturing jobs
weren’t feeling as positive about their industry as they are today. A study by Deloitte, the Manufacturing Institute and APICS, serves as proof:
• Compared to 12 percent in 2015, 29 percent of women in 2017 said that their school systems “actively or some- what encourages female students to pursue a career in the manufacturing industry.”
• Compared to 24 percent in 2015, 42 percent of women in 2017 were now “ready to encourage their daughters or female family members to pursue careers in manufacturing.”
• Over the last five years, 58 percent have “observed marked or some positive changes in their industry’s attitude towards female professional employees.”
Moreover, the percentage of women in manufacturing jobs continues to creep up, from 27 percent in 2015 to about 30 percent in 2017. And many bring with
them a commitment to produce, inno- vate and serve as role models for the next generation of workers.
MetalForming magazine is proud to bring you the 2018 Women of Excel- lence in Metalforming and Fabricating, The honorees—19 Winners and four Honorable Mention recipients selected by MetalForming editors—have distin- guished themselves for their on-the-job accomplishments and continuous com- mitment to manufacturing. The group represents myriad job functions, includ- ing operations, production, quality con- trol and management, and shares a com- mon trait: passion for our industry.
“While the career paths these women have taken to achieve what they have are diverse, all have found the metal- forming and metal-fabricating industries to be rewarding work environments,” says Brad Kuvin, MetalForming publish- er/editorial director. “Some may say they’re helping to break down gender barriers, and they’d be right. But more importantly, they are improving our
industry with their problem-solving skills and enthusiasm. MetalForming is hon- ored to tell their stories.”
Efforts to increase manufacturing opportunities for women while recogniz- ing their skills is an important function of MetalForming’s parent organization, Pre- cision Metalforming Association (PMA), and Women in Manufacturing (WiM), an organization that grew out of PMA’s commitment to these efforts.
“MetalForming’s Women of Excel- lence winners are extraordinary examples of talent and perseverance,” says Allison Grealis, WiM president and founder, and vice president of Association Services for PMA. “I can’t help but be encouraged by their stories and accomplishments. They definitely are leading the way in driving interest in young people to pursue careers and manufacturing.”
We at MetalForming invite you to join us in congratulating our 2018 Women of Excellence award winners. Read their stories and why they recommend careers in manufacturing for women.
.www.metalformingmagazine.com
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