Q : DESPITE THE LACK OF WOMEN IN BOARDROOMS IN THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY , ARE WE SEEING SOME IMPROVEMENT IN GENDER DIVERSITY ?
MANUFACTURING 4.0
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Q : DESPITE THE LACK OF WOMEN IN BOARDROOMS IN THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY , ARE WE SEEING SOME IMPROVEMENT IN GENDER DIVERSITY ?
Kow : “ While gender diversity is improving in the manufacturing industry , we are still not remotely close to gender equality . I believe that the uneven ratio of men to women in manufacturing careers is due to one simple thing – confidence . If young women are raised into thinking and believing they can excel in manufacturing , eventually pursuing careers in this sector will come naturally .
“ Training should be given to younger women and girls to build confidence and enable them to pursue careers in manufacturing that offer them a myriad of opportunities . Another factor is the misconception that manufacturing means working in a dirty factory and doing hard manual labour – but this is nothing close to reality . Modern manufacturing requires high-skilled workers to use their knowledge of mathematics , engineering and science to create high-quality parts and products .
“ There are a few steps already being taken in the 3D printing sector to encourage diversity . Women in this sector are being given a voice to discuss their experiences and the path they took to get where they are today . This type of visibility and exposure in the media has been crucial to encourage other women to explore the sector , as there are real opportunities for women in the industry . With awareness comes action .”
AUGUST 2018