The making of a diversified and empowered culture

During a recent Packaging & Processing Women’s Leadership Network breakfast, a panel of manufacturing executives had a candid conversation about what needs to change to attract more women to this male-dominated industry.

Panelist from left to right: Jane Chase, executive director Institute of Packaging Professionals; AJ Jorgenson, associate vice president of strategic engagement, The Manufacturing Institute; Hugh Roddy, VP of global engineering at Chobani; and Carol O’Neill, group president of packaging, Barry-Wehmiller.
Panelist from left to right: Jane Chase, executive director Institute of Packaging Professionals; AJ Jorgenson, associate vice president of strategic engagement, The Manufacturing Institute; Hugh Roddy, VP of global engineering at Chobani; and Carol O’Neill, group president of packaging, Barry-Wehmiller.

The topic of how to attract more women to the field of manufacturing—and more specifically, to packaging and processing—has been top of mind for many industry executives as they struggle to find talent to fill a variety of company roles from engineering and operations on the factory floor to sales, marketing, and field support. While there are efforts underway to educate a younger generation on the opportunities available, it is becoming increasingly clear that there’s a bigger societal shift that must take place to create momentum for future generations.

Recently, Deloitte, APICS, and The Manufacturing Institute surveyed more than 600 women in manufacturing and conducted nearly 20 manufacturing executive interviews to explore how effectively manufacturing companies are attracting, recruiting, and retaining women, and what should be done to close the gender gap. The women surveyed as part of the Deloitte Women in Manufacturing Study 2017, are well-educated (90% hold a bachelor’s degree or above), experienced (71% have been working over 15 years), hold a variety of senior positions, and are employed by large companies (52% work in organizations with annual revenue over $1 billion).

So, what do women have to say? According to the report, given that women are underrepresented in manufacturing and the argument to increase female talent is persuasive, one thing is certain: Manufacturing companies need a different approach to recruiting, retaining, and advancing women in the workplace. And, that directly translates to a company’s culture as well as the industry as whole.

The executive interviews done for the report—conducted with both men and women—produced a handful of key things: Employee diversity makes good business sense; companies should identify the gaps between expectations and workplace reality; increasing visibility of women leaders is needed; attract qualified people early (because once they come, they stay); pay attention to the ‘group in the middle’ (retain and engage women at career points where work/life balance becomes complex; allies and advocates, at all levels and across genders, need to be identified and engaged.

It’s time to talk
Keeping these key points in mind, PMMI’s Packaging & Processing Women’s Leadership Network (PPWLN) held a breakfast panel at PACK EXPO International and Healthcare Packaging EXPO that brought together industry leaders for a candid conversation on how the industry can assist in building a diversified workforce.

The discussion, moderated by Jane Chase, executive director at the Institute of Packaging Professionals, included panelists Carol O’Neill, group president, packaging for Barry-Wehmiller; Hugh Roddy, vice president, global engineering and project management at Chobani; and AJ Jorgenson, associate vice president of strategic engagement at The Manufacturing Institute.

It was an energetic dialogue between the industry professionals and an interactive exchange with the audience (of over 500 attendees), who were encouraged to ask questions throughout the presentation. Chase kicked off the conversation with the question, “why do you feel women are underrepresented in manufacturing?”

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