In 2023, 13.7 per cent of the global engineering workforce was made up by women. While women might make up a minority in the sector, to mark International Women in Engineering Day 2024, global engineering technologies company, Renishaw, is highlighting the contribution of just some of the women working within the business.
Letitia Meng, Sales Engineer for Encoders Products Group, based in Taiwan
I came into the engineering industry without a technical qualification, so I had to apply myself and work hard to learn about our products and our customers' needs. I'm proud of how well I rose to the challenge, and sometimes my customers are surprised at the level of product knowledge I have.
In my role at Renishaw, I work more closely with customers to advise on what product best fits their needs. I find this an efficient approach, as I am able to directly address a customer's technical queries, without having to go back and forth with an applications engineer. Of course, the engineers are always on hand if I need them!
One of my favourite projects at Renishaw the launch of the FORTiS range of enclosed linear encoders for use in harsh environments, such as machine tools. While a new product for Renishaw, it wasn’t an entirely new concept, so it was important that I worked with the technical team to gain a deep understanding of the product’s advantages and disadvantages, and how they compared to our competitors’ products. This product launch was a great opportunity to approach customers and explain the benefits that could be achieved by trialling the Renishaw technology.
Natasha Balman, Senior Service and Imports Manager, based in the UK
There’s often a misconception that you can only work in engineering if you have an educational background in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects, but it’s important to look beyond this. Take my background as an example — I studied Law at University because I wanted skills that would be beneficial in a work environment. After graduating and exploring the roles available that suited my skills, I came across procurement, becoming a Junior Buyer at Renishaw.
I didn't initially look for a career in an engineering firm, but have since been able to apply the skills to a range of roles. By enrolling in a commercial graduate scheme at the company I moved around different areas of the business, often engaging in roles very closely linked to engineering, whether it was indirect materials purchasing, or as a section leader and other operational roles. Each role opened my eyes and provided more context about the entire supply chain.
The supply chain is constantly changing, and to remain competitive engineering businesses must adapt accordingly. While difficult, we can prepare for unpredictable changes, such as natural disasters, pandemics or political issues and the disruption they cause to the supply chain. Building a resilient engineering supply chain to meet changing needs requires a combination of skills and personalities, and anyone can contribute to its success. Whenever working with teams, whether it’s in imports, compliance, sales or shop floor operations, I can apply my skills with the technical support of the engineers around me. Seeing teams succeed with this blend of technical and soft skills is always rewarding for me, and for our supply chain.
Soft skills are integral to a resilient supply chain. Effective communication, problem solving, project management and flexibility are just some of the skills that I’ve taken from a background in law and applied to everyday supply chain operations. I believe this shows how anyone can succeed in an engineering business.
Yvonne Fischer, EMEA Business Development Manager for encoder products, based in Germany
I've embraced challenges since the start of my career, having graduated in the middle of an economic crisis and at a time where very few businesses were hiring. Following that, becoming the only female technical sales engineer in Renishaw Germany came with its own set of difficulties, like learning to overcome typical stereotypes in the office — and more importantly, the stereotypes believed by customers. However, over time I've learnt that facing and overcoming these issues, whether it's in career development, with customers, or when developing new tools and strategies, strengthens you and motivates you even more. Seeing the results of problem solving and the value it creates for the industry, customers and the team, is always worth it.
Initially, I found it difficult building relationships with customers because they often didn't share all details, or tested my technical knowledge, rather than providing all necessary information needed to find the core challenge of their motion control task. As I gained more experience, I saw this as an opportunity to better understand my customers and the market need. The market changes quickly, so I knew I had to stay on top of industry knowledge to secure their trust as a market expert, and, more importantly, so I could speak the customer's language. For example, over the last few years, linear encoders for machine tools has been a game changer for Renishaw's optical encoder business in the European market and has created lots of additional business opportunities within the machine tool industry. There has also been an upwards trend in robotics for improved productivity, quality, and flexibility. Both markets require technical solutions for motion control applications, which needs to be known, understood and solved by encoding technology.
Then there are the personal challenges. For example, in a previous role I had a customer I worked with for many years that always challenged me. He would call at the end of the week, just before the weekend starts, to ask me lots of technical questions. After seven years I received the usual call from him on a Friday afternoon and I was ready to offer my advice, but he explained that he was retiring and he thanked me for my support whenever he called and truly appreciated my service during our working relationship. This was a significant moment for me where I realised that listening to customers, providing necessary help and support and working harder to develop a customer relationship was worth it.
While I did often feel I had to work harder to be accepted by customers compared to my male colleagues, I realised that by taking more time to build trust and relationship meant that I usually received far more detailed and important product and market information, which helped me strengthen my knowledge ― now people come to me for guidance.
Dr Sarah Glanvill, Lead Materials Scientist joined Renishaw in 2018. She has a PhD from Birmingham University in corrosion science.
During my PhD in corrosion science, I had a lightbulb moment at a conference. After talking to aerospace industry attendees, it became clear that, while my work was incredibly interesting, there was not an obvious route for how my new corrosion understanding could easily transition into a commercial environment. After my PhD I looked at industry roles in materials science and engineering to establish a career where I could quickly translate my knowledge and skills into real-world impact.
Materials science is fundamental to good engineering, and this field depends on research both in academia and industry. Knowing how a material works, how to manipulate it and where its properties can be best utilised, relies on principles from both science and engineering.
I’m now in a leadership position, working with a group of materials scientists and engineers, all with different specialisms. The team manages projects across the business, from designing and developing new materials technology for specially designed surfaces, to investigating whether we can make products more sustainably without impacting product quality or manufacturing efficiency
Part of my role also involves working with universities to collaborate on research that could be transferred into industry-ready projects. This involves me assessing the potential impact of the research, how feasible it is, what the gaps are, whether it could become an industrial sized process, and what the limitations are. This means I can act as a bridge, connecting highly specialised research from academia and working alongside academics to apply it to Renishaw projects.
It’s important for us to recognise the role that women have in engineering, but as the statistics show there is still much more to do to truly represent women in the sector. This is just a snapshot of the valuable role they play at Renishaw and in the sector. Hear more employee perspectives and learn about career opportunities by clicking here.
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