Fifteen Years of Women In Manufacturing (WiM): A Timeline

This year marks the 15th anniversary of Women In Manufacturing (WiM), a US national trade association created to promote, support and unite women who work in the manufacturing sector. 

A US national trade association headquartered in Ohio, WiM has grown since 2010 into a global community of more than 31,000 members, hosting workshops, summits and events that feature speakers from the biggest manufacturers in the world. 

The organisation supports women across front-line and senior roles, offering vital mentorship and community building, and is set to mark its anniversary with a special celebration at its summit in October later this year in Chicago.

Recognising the impact and influence of WiM, we ranked its President and Founder Allison Grealis as one of our top manufacturing influencers in our August magazine.

And now to mark fifteen years we're sharing a timeline of how the association has grown and helped advance women in the manufacturing sector.

A timeline of WiM

2010

• WiM is created, but this acronym doesn't yet stand for Women in Manufacturing (WiM)
• WiM, standing for Women in Metalforming is created as a supplementary group, an initiative under the Precision Metalforming Association (PMA).
• This initiative seeks to support networking for women in the metalforming sector.

2011

• In 2011, WiM officially rebrands into Women in Manufacturing, expanding its focus beyond metalforming 
• The group is now more focused on advancing women's position in the entire manufacturing industry
• It still remains a group under the PMA.

2012

• WiM hosts its inaugural national summit in Milwaukee, Wisconsin hosted by the PMA.
• The event attracts 200 female leaders in manufacturing, with Gail Lione, former Chief Compliance Officer, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Harley-Davidson, speaking. 
• The event is a success, growing the association's network and profile.

2013

• WiM hosts its second national summit from October 22-23 in Detroit, Michigan.
• The group starts to experience a steady growth in membership.
• This reflects both the success of these events and the growth of women entering manufacturing roles around the mid 2010s.

2014

• In 2014, WiM launches regional events to complement its national summit.
• These regional events offer localised networking, mentoring and professional development opportunities.

2015

• WiM becomes a fully-independent 501(c)(6) trade association no longer under PMA's remit.
• Now a standalone organisation, WiM undergoes further expansion.

2016

• In 2016, we see a prominent expansion of WiM's educational initiatives. 
• The association launches the WiM Education Foundation (WiMEF) as a 501(c)(3) organisation designed to provide scholarships and educational resources for women in manufacturing.
• This includes online learning resources and leadership development programs, such as the Leadership Institute.
• WiM also launches 'WiM Works', a job board dedicated to connecting women with career opportunities in manufacturing.

2017

• In 2017 WiM starts establishing local chapters across the US to provide grassroots-level support and engagement.

2018

• WiM introduces new training programmes aimed at addressing the skills gap in manufacturing.

2019

• With the outbreak of COVID-19, the end of 2019 marks the start of WiM transitioning more of its events and resources online.
• It conducts virtual training sessions and share resources and webinars.
• This helps broaden WiM's audience and attract younger woman seeking to enter the industry.

2020

• In 2020 WiM celebrates its 10th anniversary, a decade of advocating for women in manufacturing.
• WiM establishes the Women in Manufacturing Hall of Fame to recognise the achievements of female leaders.

2021

• In 2021 WiM launches its Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Task Force, which focuses on broader inclusion efforts within the manufacturing sector.
• The association starts to truly expand beyond the US, looking to become an international association and support women in manufacturing worldwide.
• To do this, WiM partners with organisations in Europe and Asia.

2022

• Thanks to its international expansion and host of initiatives, WiM has grown considerably by 2022.
• The association announces record membership numbers, with thousands of women and companies participating in its summits and initiatives.

2023

• WiM's annual summit, held in San Diego and focusing on sustainability and technology, attracts record numbers.
• More than 1,600 people participate, making it WiM's largest gathering to date.
• WiM launches a structured mentorship programme to connect experienced professionals with emerging industry leaders.

2024

• WiM strengthens its collaborations with industry leaders and educational institutions.
• Now backed and sponsored by many global manufacturers, the association seeks to use its influence to address the systemic challenges women face in manufacturing.
• It releases the report 'Women in Manufacturing 2024: Addressing Labour Shortages and Bridging the Gender Gap', which outlines actionable insights for the sector.

2025

• WiM celebrates its 15th anniversary. 
• With more than 28,000 members representing 3,000 companies in at least 70 countries, the association is enjoying a period of ongoing growth.
• WiM continues to focus on workforce outreach, STEM outreach and advocates for policy change to support women in manufacturing.

Explore the latest edition of Manufacturing Digital and be part of the conversation at our global conference series, Manufacturing LIVE.

Discover all our upcoming events and secure your tickets today.

Manufacturing Digital is a BizClik brand.