Over three dozen women — and a handful of men — pointed their attention to the front of the room as Timothy Simpson explained how additive manufacturing transformed one General Energies component from 855 pieces to a dozen.
The Eastern Chapter of Women in Manufacturing met at the Hyatt Place hotel on West Beaver Avenue Friday to discuss innovative technology, staff engagement and practices that are transforming the manufacturing industry.
Karen Norheim, executive vice president of the American Crane & Equipment Corporation, was happy that the group “shared a lot of good stories.” She hopes guests can internalize the stories within themselves and their businesses.
At 8 a.m., Simpson, who is a Paul Morrow professor of engineering design and manufacturing at Penn State, spoke first under a theme of “crawl[ing], walk[ing], run[ning]” through advancements of adaptive manufacturing.
Simpson spent the next hour discussing the three cases in which adaptive manufacturing is commonly used: replicating, adapting and optimizing parts. He explained adaptive manufacturing is the same thing as 3-D printing.
Within replicating parts, he explained an original part is studied, replicated and modified into a typically more concise and efficient piece.
Car manufacturers such as Porsche and Mercedes-Benz use this technology for legacy parts in antique cars for which parts are usually not readily available. Using adaptive manufacturing would allow companies to make 3-D printed parts on demand.
He discussed the restrictions of layering materials, such as overhang features that may present gravity issues and circular holes that may be difficult to achieve at certain angles.
He also mentioned thickness — or thinness — can be difficult and expensive to achieve for some materials. For example, the Navy tests the usage of a material by dropping a four-inch block of said material into saltwater to observe corrosion.
One example of adaptive printing Simpson mentioned was when one of his former students, R.T. Custer, used the technology to repurpose old pocket watches into custom wristwatches.
As for optimizing parts, a completely new part is often manufactured, allowing liberty to create anything.
Free swag from various companies covers the tables during the Eastern Pennsylvania chapter conference of Women in Manufacturing.
Divergent 3-D made a 700-horsepower supercar entirely from adaptive manufacturing while some footwear companies are producing custom made shoes using lattice structured soles for optimal performance.
Most of the processes Simpson mentioned included working with metal printing, which is a medium business advisor and sales engineer for Rockwell Automation that Corinne Pellish is familiar with.
“I work with a lot of metal manufacturing so I’m going to bring back a lot of questions on how others are reacting to these changes,” Pellish said.
Rita Lieberman and Samantha Kramer followed with a conversation about sourcing trends, the importance of multi-generational workforces and managing growth in a team.
Lieberman highlighted how steel, food products and machining are some of the top services and sources by volume for the last 12 weeks. She also pointed out a study that predicted millennials will outnumber baby boomers in the workforce by 2025.
Kramer focused on team management and engagement, presenting three challenges for managing growth — finding the right talent quickly, automating the onboarding process and retaining employees.
For the first, she emphasized search engine optimization, suggesting keywords in LinkedIn profiles, promotion videos using real staff, and keeping a business’ online footprint professional, yet inviting.
Kramer then presented the idea of training modules new employees can follow while still interacting with staff. By eliminating some of the in-person training that would take up staff time, employees are given a semi-independent approach to learning.
Lastly, she said retaining employees is all about the culture of the business. Her advice included CEOs sharing information on social media to encourage other employees and quarterly lunches where various staffs can present to other staff members.
With a single strand of pearls around her neck, Ashleigh Walters, self-proclaimed a “manufacturing geek,” stepped up to the podium next.
Walters shared how her “small town” life experience and working alongside her husband in the family business changed her direction. She said her small town experiences shaped her belief in hard work and “grit.”
Corinne Pellish of Rockwell Automation completes a mind map of how to make things better within her business during the Eastern Pennsylvania chapter conference of Women in Manufacturing.
Raising her children at home, Walters was pulled into the business when her father-in-law’s chief financial officer resigned, creating a need for her to step in. Though she contemplated waiting until her children began school, Walters decided to rejoin the workforce.
“It’s unfortunate that there aren’t more women in manufacturing, because we’re often well-suited for leading change,” she said.
With time, she stuck to a system she created called IMPACT — which stands for improve processes, mission, people, achievement, creative and teamwork. Each level focused on the overarching community of a workspace.
After divulging that the “secret sauce” for improvement is “don’t be afraid to make mistakes… but don’t make the same mistake twice,” Walters brought everyone’s attention to the pads of paper and wooden colored pencils at the center of the table.
As various songs like “The Climb” by Miley Cyrus and “Try Everything” by Shakira played in the background, each at the conference drew a mind map on how to “make things better,” focusing on the ideas of IMPACT.
Representing Governor Tom Wolf, Denise Brinley, who is the senior energy advisor for the Department of Community & Economic Development, took a moment to recognize influential women teachers who guided her through her education.
Coincidentally, the conference was held the same day as International Women’s Day, which explained the various shades of purple many of the women wore in honor of the day.
“[My daughter] believes that she can do anything so I just want to pause for a second to see what progress we have made,” Brinley said. “My daughter at the age of 12 is exposed to so much positivity about being a young woman.”
Though unplanned, the “great coincidence” of the two events made Norheim recognize it as another opportunity to “raise our voices.”
“Having women as part of any business… what that really is saying is diverse perspectives bring better problem solving,” Norheim said.
Brinley later highlighted common struggles of the workforce, suggesting information and job education be introduced to children at a younger age. Someone in the audience added to her idea by calling to adults to be more informed about options, changing the societal expectation of attending college upon high school graduation.
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Norheim chimed in, saying she wants younger people to “find their passion.”
“Why do we have to talk about you have to go to college to find your passion?” Norheim said. “Let’s change the conversation and say that we want our young people to find their passion.”
As guests feasted on a buffet of sandwiches, potato salad and soup, a blond woman in a warm mustard blouse took her place at the front of the room.
“What people really want… is to make a difference,” the woman said softly into the microphone, “to feel that their contributions matter and are valued.”
Andrea Funk’s presentation recognized that people fall into three categories: givers, takers and matchers. She said that most people are matchers — following a mentality of “you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours” — but the giver aspect in most people is what leads to an engaging environment.
She strongly advised on weeding out all “takers,” who negatively impact workplace environments once identified by other employees.
Funk’s stories about promotions that followed appreciative and congratulatory messages at first seemed to associate the notes with future success, but she was quick to clarify.
She said she had “no expectations” from the thank you letters she wrote but suspects she may not have been considered for promotions had she not done them. Making herself known to higher ups seemed a possible factor.
Things took a darker turn when the next speaker, Una Martone, asked everyone to write the first lines of their own eulogies. The crowd had a mix of reactions to the activity from inspired to dismissive.
Nonetheless, Martone reacted well to volunteers who read their excerpts, noting the statements were outward comments about others rather than inward observations of personalities.
She presented several inspirational quotes from Oprah, Milton Hershey and Princess Diana, which emphasized the differences between a calling, passion and purpose.
“Nothing brings me more happiness than trying to help the most vulnerable people in society,” Martone said, reading the princess’ quote. “It is a goal and an essential part of my life — a king of destiny.”
Before everyone was released with coupons for the Berkey Creamery, photographer Jillian Morrison educated the audience on how to make a “confidence cocktail.”
The three parts, she said, include self-love, passions and unique characteristics. In her 45-minute speech, Morrison focused on the first ingredient, explaining what self-love is and is not.
Basing her thoughts on one idea of psychology, she highlighted the importance of how one talks to oneself, saying that one’s subconscious can only hear what a person says to themselves. By this logic, complimenting others has no impact on one’s self-love if someone constantly degrades themselves.
“You cannot control what comes to your mind,” she said, “but you can control what you allow to stay.”
For vice president of supply chain at Preferred Sands Vinitha Moskal, having the opportunity to attend the conference was “very exciting.” Through her education, Moskal was often the only or one of few women in her classes.
“Sometimes as women leaders, we have a hard time trying to merge with the majority, which are the men,” she said. “Sometimes a woman’s voice is still not heard as a woman’s voice of reason. You can never be yourself but here you can just be yourself.”
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