Women in manufacturing – White paper

The Basque Country is yet again contributing its knowledge and experience to help Industry: Under the leadership of Cristina Oyón, the SPRI Group’s Director of Technology, Innovation and Sustainability, “Women in Manufacturing” involved months of work by twenty or so experts from the manufacturing sector, international organisations and research centres from four continents; their findings, analysis and discussions have led to interesting and practical conclusions that can be applied in companies around the world thanks to the “Back to the Future: Manufacturing Beyond COVID 19” white paper, which summarises and shares the reflective process conducted in the pre- and post-Covid scenario.

The intense research and reflection by the international expert team began to be disseminated during the ‘World Manufacturing Forum’ held in Lake Como (Italy) in 2020 and was enriched throughout 2021. Its results open up the way to break through the unpopular ‘glass ceiling” once and for all, and to facilitate access for women to the decision-making and management roles; a magnificent way to be able to construct together a near future that is more digital, more sustainable, more inclusive and, evidently, smarter and more efficient.

The recommendations set out in the White Paper comprise the golden rules of good practices that allow the gender gap to be closed and to be promoted by Industry, research centres, academia, international institutions and organisations, as well as by entities of civil society that can influence and help the manufacturing industry to lead pro-gender equality policies in the new processes of a services, digital and sustainable industry.

The report includes “8 game changing actions” and the need to showcase Women’s contribution in this area to a greater and better extent, along with the new models and services based on the sustainability of the Manufacturing Industry, requiring women’s active participation; it is therefore necessary to:

• Drive the presence of women in STEM degrees, overcome the digital divide and build an organisational culture with the appropriate perspective of gender, equality and equity
• Create the best conditions for women to be able to prosper in industry, eliminate barriers, foster flexibility and work-life balance, along with facilitating their holding positions on management boards and spaces

SUSTAINABILITY AND COMPETITIVENESS are clearly a great challenge that IMMEDIATELY lies ahead and which, fortunately, will bring together creativity, innovation, efficiency; which consequently will lead to a significant improvement of team performance, greater productivity and efficiency.

White paper 2021