Manufacturing is a hugely male-dominated industry; this is true from the factory floor all the way up to the boardrooms. In fact, studies have found that women represent only about 24% of the workforce in manufacturing. In fact, it is (all too) rare to even hear about businesswomen in the manufacturing industry.
However, there are women who are leading the way in the industry and making an impact in their leadership roles. These businesswomen are paving the path for others, making big industry impacts, and experiencing huge levels of success.
4 Inspiring businesswomen in the manufacturing industry
The list below shows just a few of the inspiring business women who are working in the manufacturing industry.
Kathy Bennett
Kathy Bennett is the owner of one of the most successful, woman-owned manufacturers in North America, Bennett Packaging. Kathy Bennett founded Bennett Packaging back in 1987; the company started off extremely small but managed to flourish by providing high value to every customer.
Over the years, the company grew, and in 2020 it completed a 45 million dollar expansion. Bennett Packaging has been a leading innovator, quickly adopting digital printing technologies and expanding into final mile delivery services. Digital printing, in particular, allows for dynamic content to be applied to both packaging and display products. The company has received numerous awards and is currently an industry leader in the creation of sustainable packaging.
Feng Ring Wang
Feng Ring Wang became the first female CEO of the Great Wall Motors Company in 2003 and since has been making waves in the manufacturing industry. In fact, in 2018, Feng Ring Wang was named as one of the world’s 100 most powerful women.
In March 2018, Feng Ring Wang announced that the company was to invest over $3 billion into electric vehicle research and development. This shows just how much of a visionary Wang is, as this move came well before the majority of large-scale motor companies moved to focus on electric vehicles.
Karen Norheim
Karen Norheim is the executive vice president at American Crane, a manufacturing company that specializes in the production of cranes and hoists. In 2019, Northeim won the Thomas Champion for Industry Award, which is created to honor distinguished leaders and managers in the manufacturing industry.
Karen Norheim is dedicated to helping other women in business and spends her free time working with the non-profit Women in Manufacturing, which focuses on helping younger generations of women get into the world of manufacturing.
Barbara Humpton
Barbara Humpton is the CEO of Siemens USA, a branch of the multinational conglomerate whose European branch is the largest manufacturing company in Europe. Siemens has divisions in various industries, including energy, healthcare, infrastructure, and cities.
Barbara Humpton has been ahead of her time in realizing the impact of media, communications, and Internet of Things technology on the manufacturing industry.
Her focus has led to Siemens spending over $40 billion on us to transform into a software company. Due to Humpton’s initiatives, the company now devotes $50 million a year on staff training, so they are able to best utilize technologies.
Humpton is so dedicated to helping workers adjust to the technological revolution that she also works as the chairman for the Siemens Foundation, which focuses on improving all workers’ skills and development.
