August 2022 Volume 4

INDUSTRY NEWS

Women in Manufacturing: Now and the Near Future By Dresden Moss

Sharing experiences that occur in the manufacturing industry is an opportunity to learn more about young professionals, women in STEM, and the transition of knowledge as the manufacturing workplace changes globally. Creating a positive company culture and supporting young professionals’ development through mentorship and advocacy provides the building blocks for what manufacturing will look like now, and into the future. I am an incoming third-year mechanical engineering student at the University of Akron and have been working with Fives since January of this year as a co-op in Business Development. This has been my first full-time job, working closely with the engineering process and putting the skills I’m learning in college to use. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time here and the experience it’s given me, both in terms of technical skills and interpersonal skills. Part of the reason Fives is such a good place to work, especially for someone so new to the industry, is the company culture. The values of the company help create a welcoming atmosphere for newcomers wanting to further their careers. I believe company culture to be an important part of any business, especially as industries have grown and changed throughout the years. Women in the manufacturing industries have compromised 20-30 percent of the workforce consistently since 1970(1). Currently, we make up 29.5 percent across all manufacturing, with 51.5 percent in the office versus only 26.7 percent in production(2). While these percentages have stayed constant, many companies have expressed interest in promoting more inclusivity in their workforce and hope to see these numbers increase. It’s possible we may see that soon. In 2022, it has been reported that female STEM students outnumber male STEM students for the first time ever, with an estimated 55 percent verses just 22 percent in 1984(3). This dramatic increase was brought along by early exposure, opportunities for immersion, and existing role models in the field(4). I found my passion for engineering through girls-only summer camps hosted at colleges and giving young girls opportunities to learn about these different fields. I was also inspired by the women I saw already affecting the industries in which they worked, such as Margaret Hamilton, a software engineer who helped make the moon landing possible. Having these role models is important because it shows young women what’s possible and encourages them to pursue their passions. By continuing to support these students, we will be able to see a rapid change in diversity of the workforce in the next few years alone.

Figure 1: Co-Op Dresden Moss atop an R&D lab furnace We are entering an interesting transitional period in the industry, not only in the changing gender mix but also generationally. Many older generation workers are set to retire within the next 10 years, leaving the younger generations to fill in the positions they leave behind. At present, Baby Boomers make up 29 percent of the industry, with Gen X andMillennials both at 34 percent and Gen Z only at 1 percent(5). These generations are grouped based on attitude, motivations, and significant historical events that define them(6). It is crucial to take these differences into account, and use them to create a stronger team. For example, Baby Boomers tend to be the most structured of the generations. They are great mentors, having been in the industry the longest, but they tend to adhere more strictly to a set schedule and may be more hesitant to change. Meanwhile Gen-Z tend to be the most adaptable, seeing flexibility as a necessity, and striving for a healthy work-life balance. It is important to foster a mentoring relationship between the more experienced workers and the incoming young professionals, but as for any mentorship, it is not one sided. Baby Boomers have the advantage of experience, while Gen-Z have the advantage of technology.They’ve grown up with access to a wealth of information their entire lives and have learned how to use it to their advantage. While the Baby Boomers can teach these young professionals about the industry they’re entering, Gen-Z can teach the Baby Boomers how it’s changing. With such a diverse group of people, it’s important to advocate for everyone, giving everyone a seat at the

FIA MAGAZINE | AUGUST 2022 58