The Women in Manufacturing Network

The Women in Manufacturing Network connects women owners and executives in manufacturing industries. The network provides a forum to:

• meet and share knowledge with other industry professionals
• get business advice from leading consultants, academics and practitioners
• participate in seminars, workshops and site visits.

Click here to join the Women in Manufacturing Network.

Women in Manufacturing Stepping Up Advance Program

Assistance for Women in Manufacturing
This program provides learning opportunities for women in manufacturing. It focuses on best-practice and increasing competitiveness and sustainable growth in the New South Wales manufacturing environment.

Participating businesses will benefit by:

• acquiring an understanding of modern manufacturing operations and supply chain management practices
• improving individual business operations through the application of new knowledge and skills
• joining a strong network of manufacturing professionals.

Program overview
The program runs for eight months. It has both educational and a mentoring streams.
For more information and expressions of interest in future programs, email assist@business.nsw.gov.au

Training workshops
Coordinated by industry experts and practitioners, participants attend seven sessions on separate manufacturing topics.
The sessions vary in format but include:

• factory visits
• interactive discussions
• lecture-style meetings.

The sessions focus on providing an understanding of best-practice in the manufacturing and supply chain sectors.

Workshop topics include:

Forecasting and supply chain management

• Manufacturing processes and ERP system fundamentals
• Project management
• Inventory management fundamentals
• Lean manufacturing
• Leadership through influence
• Putting your best foot forward

Mentoring
Participants will be matched with specially-selected manufacturing and supply chain professionals. These mentors will assist program participant by:

• acting as a sounding board for ideas and issues
• monitoring progress with feedback
• inviting the mentee to learn from their experiences, knowledge and skill
• offering opinions and personal insights to support development
• supporting mentees' progress during the program.

Matching will be made by the Program Facilitator, who will take into account the work experience, desired outcomes and industry-specific needs of participants. Conflicts of interest will be avoided.

Mentees and mentors will undergo formal training at the outset of the program to gain a clear understanding of the mentoring relationship and to set achievable outcomes. Mentors and mentees will be required to meet at least once a month for one to two hours with the aim of addressing and resolving specific business issues.

Workshop sessions may be amended to take account of specific issues raised by participants during the program.

Mentee commitments

1. To benefit by accepting guidance from more experienced manufacturing and supply chain professionals. You should actively seek to accelerate your personal professional development
2. To attend induction training to understand the role of a mentee. This will be scheduled for an afternoon early in the year. Attendance is mandatory
3. Meet your mentor at least once a month for 1 to 2 hours
4. Attend a scheduled meeting for 2 to 3 hours once a month. Each meeting will focus on a manufacturing, supply chain or leadership issue. These sessions provide a further opportunity to meet with other manufacturing/supply chain professionals – and your mentor – and increase skills in key areas. You should be prepared to attend at least six of the eight instructor-led sessions.
5. A formal graduation ceremony is held in November.

Program funding
The program has been made possible by funding provided by Industry and Investment NSW. Program participation costs $3,000, plus GST per firm. However, eligible firms may be subsidised by the DII and are only required to pay $1,500 plus GST. This fee entitles eligible firms to enrol up to three participants in the program.

Eligibility criteria
All participating firms nominating mentees must:

1. Manufacture in NSW
2. Employ more than one person (excluding the business owner)
3. Have a annual turnover greater than $200,000
4. Have a positive net worth
5. Have current assets/current liabilities >.75.
6. Nominate participants who are women owners or managers of small-to-medium manufacturers; or women employed in production, manufacturing or supply chain roles within the firm.

Mentors are not subject to the same eligibility criteria. New mentors with manufacturing and supply chain expertise are always welcome. Training and support for mentors is organised by the Program Coordinator.

Mentor commitments

1. To attend at the an induction session early in the year
2. To attend a 1 to 2 hour session with your mentee each month (at a mutually-acceptable venue).

Mentors are welcome to attend any of the training workshops and encouraged to attend the program graduation.

About the Team Delivering the Program
The program is delivered by the Australasian Production and Inventory Control Society NSW (APICS). APICS organises the exchange of practical knowledge, ideas and techniques in the field of production, inventory and supply chain management. APICS is a non-profit organisation.

Contact Linda Henry of apics nsw on (02) 9891 1411 or email linda.henry@apicsnsw.org.au.