Get ready for women in manufacturing

It’s hard to believe, but the share of women working in the manufacturing industry is the lowest since October 1971. Today, women make up 27 percent of the country’s manufacturing workforce, compared with nearly 50 percent in the labor force as a whole, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

And yet, there seem to be more examples than ever of women succeeding and thriving in manufacturing environments, said Catherine Hayes, executive director of the S.C. Automotive Council and longtime champion of initiatives focusing on women in manufacturing. Hayes volunteers on the Southern Automotive Women’s Forum, is the driving power between a middle school girls event called Girls Auto Know every year, and a vocal advocate of educational and apprenticeship programs that make the industry more accessible to women in all walks of life.

Take, for example, Julia Doherty, who wanted to be one of two things when she grew up: a vet, or someone who worked with cars.

“I love cars,” said Doherty, whose father’s 20-year career as a BMW engineer had always given her the impression it would be a good field to work in. “When I graduated [high school], I wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted to do, and automotive was just what I knew.”

Today, the 24-year-old works as a quality engineer in South Carolina, where a two-year degree from Greenville Technical College lets her “follow in his path.” She is approached frequently by other women interested in how she got her position.

“What I like to do is change the female perspective of it, because they always say it’s a man’s field,” said Doherty, adding that she never felt targeted or singled out, despite being one of the only female students in her college classes. “But whenever someone is interested in the field, I say go for it, because the opportunities are endless and the manufacturing field is looking for women.”

And looking they are, said Paige Reed, CFO of Greenville-based global automotive firm Sage Automotive Interiors. While she said Sage is able to find qualified people, Reed notes a growing industry need for skilled workers. Workforce development programs have responded to that need, meaning that opportunities abound.

Reed said she went against the grain when she decided to go into manufacturing instead of public accounting right out of school, but the decision taught her more about running a complex business and supply chain that ultimately led her to her current position.

“You learn a lot when you work in a challenging work environment,” said Reed, who also said she grew up with family in manufacturing.

Part of the lack of women might be a matter of role models, said Nancy Heillemann, director of operations at St. Jude Medical, where they work on medical devices. Heillemann even taught college classes, and was often the only female in the room.

“I think that some women are just intimidated by the idea,” she said. “Other than that, it may be that they don’t think it’s something they can do.”

Hayes said the numbers may get a bump in a few years due to the strength of current efforts to recruit women to the industry.

“As we talk about the shrinking workforce, there’s opportunities there. There are people in lower-wage positions who may not be that stimulated or engaged in what they’re doing, and they really don’t know how cool manufacturing is,” she said. “That’s a huge opportunity for women.”

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