CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, APICS Supply Chain Council (APICS SCC) announced the latest survey findings from a collaborative industry report completed by APICS SCC, Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute. Minding the Manufacturing Gender Gap: How manufacturers can get their fair share of talented women report compiled feedback from more than 600 women across manufacturing roles to provide insight into best practices for attracting, retaining and advancing women in manufacturing careers.
“By focusing on recruiting and retaining female talent, organizations can lessen turnover, decrease workforce costs by improving employee relations, enhance shareholder value, and improve public perception,” said APICS CEO Abe Eshkenazi, CSCP, CAE, CPA. “Prioritizing continued education through organizations like APICS can support the professional development of employees and by doing so, help companies retain valuable talent. We are seeing positive changes from the industry regarding recruitment efforts, but it will take a collective effort to see a greater number of women applying for positions in manufacturing and progressing to leadership roles.”
The survey focuses on addressing the current gender gap in manufacturing, driving enterprise value through gender diversity, attracting and retaining female employees, as well as tips for the professional development of female employees. Key findings from the study include:
- Respondents ranked opportunities for challenging and interesting assignments, attractive pay and work-life balance as the top three most important priorities.
- 26 percent of respondents rated their companies’ retention efforts as poor or very poor.
- Two-thirds of respondents indicated standards of performance are not the same for men and women.
- 84 percent of executives responding to the skills gap survey agree there is a talent shortage in U.S. manufacturing.
“In 2015 the manufacturing industry is anticipated to yield approximately 700,000 new jobs, creating an urgency to recruit and retain women in manufacturing careers,” said Eshkenazi. “The report’s findings provide organizations in the industry with best practices to attract and break into the untapped talent pool of women.”
The report also notes that a critical problem companies face is the inability to retain and engage with employees. Understanding the evolving attitudes toward work, expectations of work-life balance and personal advancement are important in retaining employees and meeting the expectations of prospective workers.
“Retention efforts and professional development opportunities are a large factor in an organization’s success, particularly in manufacturing,” said Peter Bolstorff, APICS SCC executive director. “Identifying and developing great leaders within an organization can yield both a competitive and positive work environment. With nearly 70 percent of respondents claiming they would remain in the current industry they are in, 30 percent stated they need incentives to stay. Businesses can learn from the data presented and tailor their retention efforts.”
The Manufacturing Institute continues to contribute to the efforts of attracting and advancing women in manufacturing through the STEP Ahead Awards, which recognizes outstanding women in the manufacturing industry. To nominate a female in manufacturing who deserves this recognition, please visit: https://mi.onlineapplications.net/applications/.
For more information on the study, see the full report here.
About APICS
APICS is the premier professional association for supply chain and operations management and the leading provider of research, education and certification programs that elevate supply chain excellence, innovation and resilience. APICS Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM), APICS Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) and APICS Supply Chain Operations Reference Professional (SCOR-P) designations set the industry standard. With over 43,000 members and more than 300 channel partners, APICS is transforming the way people do business, drive growth and reach global customers. For more information, visit apics.org.
About APICS Supply Chain Council
APICS SCC is a nonprofit organization that advances supply chains through unbiased research, benchmarking and publications. APICS SCC maintains the Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR) model, the supply chain management community’s most widely accepted framework for evaluating and comparing supply chain activities and performance. APICS SCC enables corporations, academic institutions and public sector organizations to address the ever-changing challenges of managing a global supply chain to elevate supply chain performance. APICS SCC is part of APICS, the premier professional association for supply chain and operations management. Visit apicsscc.org to learn more.
