Following the success of the Women in Manufacturing Stepping Up Advance Program in previous years, Industry and Investment NSW is once again subsidising participants during 2010. Applications are being sought from women who fulfil operations or supply chain roles within larger manufacturing concerns or manage their own manufacturing businesses.

Through both educational sessions and mentoring, the program aims to foster best practice and to assist women in building strong and supportive networks for sustained careers in this largely male-dominated sector. By supporting women in the sector, the program recognises the unique traits that women bring to management and operational roles and the significant part they can play in building a more competitive and robust manufacturing sector in NSW.

Technical educational training sessions covering topics like forecasting, lean inventory and manufacturing processes are balanced with softer, managerial focused discussions around leadership and behavioural understanding. Simultaneously, each woman is matched with a more senior practitioner as her mentor for the program’s duration. The mentor offers a sounding board for mentees, giving the women an opportunity to explore ideas and seek feedback in a non-threatening or judgmental environment. Participants are provided with upfront training to assist them better prepare for and get the most from their mentoring relationships.

Although the program is manufacturing-based, participants have varying job descriptions and operate in a variety of industries. This diversity affords participants the benefit of varied perspectives which enhances and broadens the learning opportunity and provides the women with a strong network of industry experts that can prove essential as they seek to grow their careers in the sector.