Two Ingersoll Rand Women Honored for Accomplishments in the Manufacturing Industry

March 25, 2015 | By Business Wire News

SWORDS, Ireland

Two women at Ingersoll Rand (NYSE:IR), a world leader in creating comfortable, sustainable and efficient environments, are recipients of The Manufacturing Institute’s 2015 Women in Manufacturing Science, Technology, Engineering and Production (STEP) Awards.

The STEP Awards honor women who have demonstrated excellence and leadership in their careers and represent all levels of the manufacturing industry, from the factory-floor to the C-suite. New this year is the emerging leader designation that connects emerging leaders with mentors to create an expansive talent pipeline for decades to come.

The STEP Award recipients from Ingersoll Rand are:

Katie Davis – Director of Engineering, Corporate
Audrey Mills – Test Engineer, Corporate

Davis leads a diverse team in the areas of component engineering, which includes parts and supplier rationalizations, and value analysis/value engineering (VAVE) process development. Mills is responsible for developing, scheduling and analyzing testing and test data for existing and new fluid products.

“Katie and Audrey represent some of the best and brightest minds in the manufacturing industry,” said Michael W. Lamach, chairman and chief executive officer of Ingersoll Rand. “Each STEP award honoree serves as a role model not only to professionals currently in the industry, but also to women who will one day enter the workforce.”

The STEP Awards are part of the larger STEP Ahead initiative, launched to examine and promote the role of women in the manufacturing industry through recognition, research, and leadership for attracting, advancing, and retaining strong female talent.

A recent survey from Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute found that 80 percent of American manufacturing companies have a moderate to severe shortage of available, qualified workers. Contributing to this gap is the underrepresentation of women in the industry. While women make up approximately 50 percent of the labor force, that number is only about 25 percent in the manufacturing labor force.

“These 130 women are the faces of exciting careers in manufacturing,” said Jennifer McNelly, president, The Manufacturing Institute. “We chose to honor these women because they each made significant achievements in manufacturing through positive impact on their company and the industry as a whole.”

On March 26, The Manufacturing Institute will recognize 130 recipients of the STEP Awards at a gala in Washington. The STEP Awards program will highlight each honoree’s story, including their leadership and accomplishments in manufacturing.

About Ingersoll Rand

Ingersoll Rand (NYSE:IR) advances the quality of life by creating comfortable, sustainable and efficient environments. Our people and our family of brands — including Club Car®, Ingersoll Rand®, Thermo King® and Trane® — work together to enhance the quality and comfort of air in homes and buildings; transport and protect food and perishables; and increase industrial productivity and efficiency. We are a $13 billion global business committed to a world of sustainable progress and enduring results. For more information, visit www.ingersollrand.com.

About The Manufacturing Institute

The Manufacturing Institute (the Institute) is the 501(c)(3) affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers. As a non-partisan organization, the Institute is committed to delivering leading-edge information and services to the nation’s manufacturers. The Institute is the authority on the attraction, qualification and development of world-class manufacturing talent. For more information, please visit www.themanufacturinginstitute.org.