APICS Helps Tackle Skill and Gender Gap in Manufacturing Industry

June 22, 2016 | By Business Wire News

CHICAGO

APICS, the premier professional association for supply chain management, is committed to raising awareness of supply chain career paths for the next generation. Manufacturing has become a less popular career path in recent years, particularly for women. In fact, women make up about 47 percent of the United States workforce, but only 27 percent of the manufacturing workforce. To increase awareness and create ambassadors for manufacturing careers for women, APICS and the Manufacturing Institute have released LEAD: Becoming an Impactful Voice to the Next Generation of Talent.

The LEAD toolkit outlines ways for women who are currently in manufacturing to become ambassadors for their industry and ways for companies and organizations to get involved and increase awareness around supply chain careers. It also provides information for educators to encourage young girls to explore the professional possibilities offered in this field.

“There is a talent gap in the manufacturing industry that is inherently linked to the vast gender gap in the field. In order to bring about real change, the industry as a whole must be collectively responsible for addressing these issues,” said APICS CEO Abe Eshkenazi, CSCP, CPA, CAE. “A single company, person or association cannot solve this problem alone. The LEAD toolkit offers a path for everyone, from the individual to the corporation, to do their part in correcting course to include more women in the industry. Together we can empower the next generation of manufacturing talent.”

The LEAD toolkit is part of APICS’s ongoing efforts to encourage and celebrate women in supply chain. In 2015, APICS partnered with Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute to study what works and what doesn’t in attracting women to jobs in manufacturing. The results are available on the APICS website.

About APICS

APICS is the premier professional association for supply chain 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), APICS Certified in Logistics, Transportation, and Distribution (CLTD), and APICS Supply Chain Operations Reference Professional (SCOR-P) designations set the industry standard. With over 45,000 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.