The Next Generation of Manufacturing

Women in manufacturing are an essential part of the industry. They bring a unique set of skills, knowledge, and experience to the table that can help drive innovation and progress. Unfortunately, women have traditionally been underrepresented due to a lack of exposure to opportunities in engineering and manufacturing. This is why it is so important for companies to do everything in their power to make sure they are hiring the best and brightest minds in the world.

Meaghan Ziemba , Owner of Z-Ink Solutions, Chief Marketing Officer for 38th Street Studios, and host of Mavens of Manufacturing is an inspiring advocate for women in manufacturing. She shares her story of how she got started in the industry and the incredible opportunity she has to put a spotlight on other women, empowering and driving a more diverse community in the industry. She believes that to make sure that women are not discriminated against and are continuing to be hired, companies need to be proactive in getting in front of the next generation. This includes exposing kids to what engineering and manufacturing are at a young age, as well as getting rid of the misconception that engineering and manufacturing are not creative or fun.

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It is important to encourage STEM education early on in a child’s life. This can be done in a variety of ways, from providing books and toys that are geared toward STEM topics to creating mentorship programs that connect older generations to younger ones or, even sponsoring programs that promote this. Not only will this help to create a more diverse and inclusive workforce, but it will also ensure that there is a qualified and knowledgeable workforce to fill the jobs that are projected to be available in the future of manufacturing.?

Meaghan and Travis discuss the contributions of Debbie Sterling , Founder of GoldieBlox, Inc. , who found a way to get young girls interested in engineering and creativity. Not only does it provide a fun and engaging way to learn, but it also uses storytelling to make it more interesting. Additionally, introducing fun books that focus on robotics and engineering to help kids gain a better understanding of the concepts early on can make a world of a difference.

“It’s definitely a whole picture item that we need to consider. It’s not going to get solved just focusing on one generation over the next. We have to think of the whole picture and long-term goals.”

As a parent, Meaghan sees the value in encouraging her kids to explore and ask why. She believes in creating an environment where they feel safe to take risks and ask questions, giving them the freedom to make mistakes and learn from them.

Industry leaders must find a way to inspire future generations.? As discussed between Travis and Meaghan, this can be done by opening up facilities for tours, sponsoring events geared toward young kids, providing internships and apprenticeships, and sponsoring kids to attend trade shows. By doing this, kids get to see what is going on in the industry, in their community, and in the world around them.?

A company in Atlanta, GA, is a great example of this. One of the owners created an online internship program during the pandemic and was amazed by the ideas the kids came up with. She made a great point that companies should consider when doing their strategic planning when budgeting for marketing and sales. She suggested that companies also allocate some of their budget to community outreach programs. This could involve sending engineers to local schools to teach kids about the company and what they do. It could also involve funding robotics teams or other similar activities. These are great ways to get kids excited about the industry and to show them that there are opportunities to succeed in the manufacturing world.

Another way to advocate for the industry is to collaborate with people who can help spread the message. People like Drew Crowe , who have inspiring stories, can help to give kids hope that they can make something of themselves and be proud of it. By connecting with kids on a personal level, they can create a sense of inspiration and hope that they don't have to repeat the patterns of their past.

The future of manufacturing is dependent on the leaders of today and the amount of time and effort they are willing to invest in our future leaders.? Working together to keep our world turning, our industries growing, and our future generations thriving we can accomplish so much more.

If you are interested in taking that next step for our future, connect with Meaghan and see how you can collaborate!