It’s 2022, but women are still a minority in the automotive supply chain and manufacturing industry, representing only 30% of the workforce. It’s a slight increase from 20 years ago when that number was only around 26%, but we can do better.
Improving female representation is Allison Grealis’s focus as President and Founder of the https://www.wimef.org/ (Women in Manufacturing Education Foundation), which develops training and development programs for women in the industry. 
One of her biggest goals in that role, Allison says, is to portray the right message about what modern manufacturing work even is. Hint: It’s no longer just a shop floor job in a dirty factory. “We hope all of these efforts … will make a difference and have more women wanting and selecting a career in manufacturing.” She joins us in this episode of Auto Supply Chain Prophets to talk about job and development opportunities for women in the auto supply chain industry.
Themes discussed in this episode: 
The current job opportunity landscape for women who want manufacturing jobs.
How to portray the right message about what a modern manufacturing job is.
Training and development opportunities available through Women in Manufacturing (WiM).
What to expect at WiM’s https://web.cvent.com/event/fada947f-796a-469a-ad64-05b476e95941/summary?RefId=Website (annual summit).

Featured on this Episode  Name: Allison Grealis
Title: President and Founder, https://www.wimef.org/ (Women in Manufacturing Education Foundation)
About: The Women in Manufacturing Education Foundation is dedicated to developing training and educational programs aimed at supporting the advancement of women in the manufacturing industry. She has over 20 years of experience working with trade associations.
Connect: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allison-grealis-1a234919/ (LinkedIn) | https://twitter.com/allisongrealis (Twitter)




Episode HighlightsTimestamped inflection points from the show


[2:16] A life of service: Meet Allison Grealis, Founder and President of the https://www.wimef.org/ (Women in Manufacturing Association Education Foundation). She explains why trade associations are so important, especially for women in the industry.


[3:32] The opportunity landscape: There are tons of opportunities available today as the automotive supply chain and manufacturing industry continues to change and develop, Allison explains.


[4:45] The right message: There are a lot of myths and misconceptions around what manufacturing really is. Allison explains how her organization uses https://twitter.com/WomeninMFG (social media), https://www.womeninmanufacturing.org/news/blog (blog posts), and https://www.womeninmanufacturing.org/hear-her-story-podcast (other strategies) to change that image and attract more women to the industry.


[6:43] Training is critical: A majority of WiM members say the one thing they need to feel successful in their career is more training and professional development opportunities. Allison shares some of the options https://www.wimef.org/events-and-programs (available through WiM).


[9:45] Summit 2022: Registration for https://web.cvent.com/event/fada947f-796a-469a-ad64-05b476e95941/summary?RefId=Website (WiM’s 2022 Summit is now open). Interested participants can expect leadership and educational tracks that will help them develop personally and professionally.


[11:09] Corporate membership: Allison discusses how WiM’s 300+ corporate members can leverage its trainings and resources within their companies.   


[11:57]  The one thing: The best thing supply chain leaders can do to excite a new generation about supply chain manufacturing jobs is share their stories and be ambassadors for the industry, Allison says.


Top quotes

[4:35] Allison: “There are lots of supply chain opportunities and companies are looking for individuals who can be problem solvers [and] innovators who have expertise to...