STEP Forward Is A Commitment To Promote ‘Women In Manufacturing’


01/31/2018

Two days long event provides network and discussions to women for exploring the opportunities that lie in the manufacturing.


Dailycsr.com – 31 January 2018 – The Ingersoll Rand plc and the Manufacturing Institute held a two days long event, whereby bringing around two hundred women in one place for manufacturing. The event was called “STEP Forward: Charlotte” which consisted of “leadership development sessions, networking, and roundtable discussions”.
 
STEP is short form of “Science, Technology, Engineering, and Production”, while STEP Forward was launched by Manufacturing Institute for promoting “the role of women in the manufacturing industry”, while providing companies a “unique opportunity” for strengthening “diversity strategies”.
 
Moreover, it also gives a chance to “develop new concepts” in promoting and “retaining female talent”. Women from “all levels of the manufacturing workforce” took part in “STEP Forward: Charlotte”, whereby the range extended from the “shop floor to the C-suite”. Sharing “best practices” and “offering solutions” at the event were “Michael W. Lamach, chairman and chief executive officer at Ingersoll Rand and Carolyn Lee, executive director of The Manufacturing Institute”.
 
The attendees were urged to become “catalysts for change” in their respective social as well as corporate communities. While Ingersoll Rand reported that:
“Filling manufacturing jobs is difficult. According to a report by Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute, 84 percent of executives agree there is talent shortage in the U.S. manufacturing sector, and 80 percent of manufacturing executives reported they are willing to pay more than market rate salaries and wages in order to secure qualified talent. Still, six out of ten positions remain unfilled due to the talent shortage”.
 
Forty seven percent of the labour force is women, while only twenty nine percent “manufacturing workforce” is women. STEP Forward is a commitment of “Manufacturing Institute and Ingersoll Rand” for reaching out to “more women” with the “rewarding, fulfilling and well-paying opportunities” offered in “manufacturing”.
 
In the words of Ingersoll Rand’s Chairman as well as the Chief Executive Officer, Michael W. Lamach:
“As leaders in manufacturing, we share a goal to attract the best and brightest talent to the industry – and that includes a critical need to attract, retain and promote more women in manufacturing. Research shows that gender diversity in manufacturing yields big returns on and off the balance sheet and is necessary for the long-term sustainability and success of the manufacturing industry.”
 
While, the Manufacturing Institute’s Executive Director, Carolyn Lee, said:
“Companies across the U.S. agree there is a talent shortage in manufacturing. STEP Forward is working to close this gap by providing women opportunities to cultivate rewarding careers in manufacturing. The women participating in this event demonstrate what modern manufacturing careers are all about: making an impact in their communities with meaningful careers that offer significant opportunities for growth.”
 
 
 
References:
3blmedia.com