A segment of the workforce that will help close the skills gap and talent shortage in manufacturing are women.\u202fWomen pursuing careers in STEM and specifically manufacturing are imperative to the economic growth we desire and expect.<\/p>\n
A manufacturing report done by Deloitte\u202f<\/a>looking at the foundation for America\u2019s success indicates that of the top drivers of global competitiveness for manufacturing, the number one driver is talent. This report states, \u201cas the manufacturing sector grows and the demand for higher skilled jobs increases, however, companies\u2019 are struggling to attract and retain top talent. The need for higher technical skills, creativity, and problem solving will continue to be desired by corporations and manufacturing companies of all sizes.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n In February 2023, a new facility was opened in Cape Town, South Africa, to manufacture products used for renewable energy and clean cooking. The whole facility, from plant manager down, has a women-only workforce. This isn\u2019t the norm, though, and I\u2019m not arguing that it should be \u2013 equality is about including women, not just at the lower levels of industry, but in senior roles, too. It is however encouraging to see more women in supply chain careers and them becoming sought-after, desirable, and rewarding options.<\/p>\n Although we may tend to think that women only recently entered the manufacturing world, that\u2019s just not true. The great World Wars saw a huge increase in the number of women on the shop floor, but at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, women were often working textile weaving looms or making matches, painting ceramics, and sewing clothes: the kind of manual labor where small, dexterous hands were more valuable than brute strength.<\/p>\n Although women now only represent somewhere between 30 and 40% of the manufacturing workforce, it is encouraging to see women occupying 1 out of 4 senior roles in industry. Women such as Barbara Hampton, CEO of Siemens USA, Feng Ying Wang, CEO and Vice Chairman of Great Wall Motors, Veronica Braker, Vice President of Operations, Performance Materials at BASF and Marilyn Hewson, Chairman, President, & CEO of Lockheed Martin Corporation (amongst many others) show us that the value of women in leadership positions is increasingly acknowledged, and they bring benefits to the business and aren\u2019t mere PR stunts.<\/p>\n Victoria Brocklesby, COO and co-founder of Origin, reports that many leading UK manufacturers are making a concerted effort to encourage women to join their workforce and support them in their careers as they see the benefits of diversity on the bottom line.<\/p>\n In some instances, government policy is what has forced the acceptance and promotion of women in typically male-orientated workplaces. If you can\u2019t discriminate based on gender, you must promote competent women with proven track records over male counterparts. I think women are seeing manufacturing and distribution as satisfying career opportunities, offering rewarding positions that stimulate and challenge.<\/p>\n As we\u2019re shedding stereotypes, we\u2019re asking ourselves why women can\u2019t do those jobs and why they shouldn\u2019t be doing those jobs. Apart from a few exceptions, men are going to win out on manual labor that requires a powerful physique with plenty of muscles, but when it comes to strategy and intelligence, women can hold their own and have plenty of mental muscles and fortitude to bring to the table.<\/p>\n ERP software plays a role in this, too, as no-one has arcane secrets hidden in personal spreadsheets that they refuse to share, locking colleagues out of aspects of manufacturing or distribution because of a lack of data. All the data is in the computer, so anyone who has access, can use it to build their own strategy and execute on it.<\/p>\n Any search for the benefits of including more women in the workplace returns a whole list of positives, including to a company\u2019s profitability and financial wellbeing. The advantages when it comes to personnel wellbeing, social and community upliftment, diversity and equality as well as creative thinking are numerous and enough to put a smile on any CEOs face.<\/p>\n According to research, women have been instrumental in boosting sustainability, implementing cross-functional teams, developing cost-saving technologies, mentoring young talent, implementing diversity, equity and inclusion and having a meaningful, positive impact on a company\u2019s culture. Not only do these boost the bottom line, but they create a business that retains and supports existing staff while attracting new talent.<\/p>\n A more diverse workplace boosts innovation and provides creative solutions to problems, increasing productivity and potentially enhancing the products being manufactured with minimal cost implications.<\/p>\n As an organization that believes in equality and that supports women in tech, each year, SYSPRO commemorates International Women\u2019s Day on the 8th of March. International Women\u2019s Day is a global day honouring the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.<\/p>\n Over the past 3 years, we\u2019ve released our annual global video campaign that celebrates SYSPRO\u2019s Women in Manufacturing and Women in Tech<\/a>. In 2021, we featured some of our SYSPRO customers and partners<\/a>.<\/p>\n In 2022, we hosted our very first ever, women in tech panel discussion<\/a> where SYSPRO women in tech shared inspiring stories, memorable moments, and never-heard-before dialogue about working together for change.<\/p>\nThe evolution of the role of women in manufacturing<\/h2>\n
Why has this change happened?<\/h2>\n
The benefits of change for women and the industry<\/h2>\n
International Women’s Day Shines a Spotlight<\/h2>\n
Female manufacturing software developers<\/h2>\n