- Samina Khalid, Marketing Manager at Renishaw Metrology Systems Ltd, feels women are still viewed as somewhat incongruous working amid heavy machinery on the shopfloors
- Complete absence of flexible work arrangement, equal pay, job prosperity and non-inclusive workplaces discourage many women from pursuing career in manufacturing
As the Marketing Manager of global metrology solutions major Renishaw, Samina Khalid certainly makes measuring solutions for manufacturing the prime discussion point among customers. But beyond the mechanical measuring process, her professional journey has also afforded her the experience of measuring the real value of women in manufacturing the hard way. With international women’s day right at the corner, Samina shares her insights into the real scenario of gender biasness and why or if women are left behind in manufacturing.
Samina completed her B.Sc. in Biotech from Sri Bhagawan Mahaveer Jain College followed by an MBA in International Business from the University of Pune. Her professional career snowballed into success with Renishaw Metrology Systems Ltd where she currently works as the Marketing Manager. Her excellence in manufacturing has made her even more undaunted and unintimidated by learning everything from scratch.
Samina Khalid has no qualms in admitting that men were typically viewed as a better fit in manufacturing. Samina is on her own mission to debunk sexist myths in manufacturing that deny women a level-playing field. Women are still viewed as somewhat unsuitable while working amid heavy machineries on the shop floors. Regardless of Samina’s identity, her motto has always been to thrive in her job responsibilities, uplift women employees and beat against the odds to bag future opportunities
Gender Inequality in Manufacturing is No Myth
Samina’s experience in manufacturing has made her painfully aware that women employees are a rarity. Samina herself has worked towards erasing gender bias in heavy machinery industry. She has striven to overcome this bias by first changing her mentality and subsequently planting the seeds of change within her peer groups, family and acquaintances.
“Manufacturing units are conventionally associated with bone-weary by physical labour, rumbling heavy machinery, frequent union woes, sticky dust and grime, and a hard task at the end of the day. There is a pervading denial to accept that times are changing, and in India manufacturing has gone through a sea-change by adopting technology and science. More women are rising to the challenge of running factories and moving into what was previously thought a male-oriented domain. They are also venturing into fields hitherto unthought of thereby rising to every challenge and excelling in their calling.”
Samina recounts that as manufacturers wake up to the clarion call of diversity in promoting creative output, Indian women are making greater impact. Many women are now gravitating towards engineering, leading to thousand others being trained to be on the shop floor and understand machines.
Women are Intimidated by Indian Manufacturing Stereotypes
Samina’s expertise in manufacturing has made her acutely aware of the grim reality behind women’s reluctance to join the industry. She admits that the stereotypical idea of manual labour, long working hours and a-not-so friendly shop-floor often consequents in fewer women joining the manufacturing workforce. Nonetheless, Samina refuses to be a pessimist and see the glass half empty.
“I think a lot of women originally, and some may still, thought that manufacturing was a “get down and dirty” type of job. Don’t get me wrong, if that is what you want, manufacturing can offer plenty of dirt. But there is so much to manufacturing, there is the engineering aspect, procurement, logistics, sales, marketing, design, human resource, environmental, etc.”
Speaking about her experiences and being aware of the privileges bestowed on her, Samina is not blind to the challenges confronted by lesser-privileged women working in manufacturing.
“Complete absence of flexible work arrangement, equal pay, job prosperity and non-inclusive workplaces dishearten many women from giving manufacturing a second thought. I have visited companies in manufacturing sector where they don’t have washrooms for women. Though I saw few working as housekeeping and on asking how they manage, they just remain quiet as they were scared what if I inform their boss resulting in losing a job.”
Samina also speaks about the problems at the grassroots level, formal education and expert knowledge in manufacturing. She explains how parents discourage their children, and especially girl children, from going into a manufacturing career because they think factories are “dirty and dangerous”. This idea grows like cancer in mind deterring women from taking the plunge into manufacturing.
“How many girls will you find in mechanical, civil, or instrumentation engineering! Probably a handful?”
A Hope for Better India
Addressing gender bias in manufacturing on a pan-India and global level, Samina is optimistic about India being on the cusp of a paradigm change in its growth and position in the world. Referring to India’s fast-paced development in all domains, Samina expresses hope in seeing India triumph as a global power on the shoulders of its skilled and gender-inclusive workforce.
Samina believes that confidence is the first step towards success in manufacturing, which should be attained by tearing away the veneer of prejudices. She pleads women to be confident in their knowledge, skills and be open to learning from those around them. Samina anticipates a favourable climate for women in manufacturing now that business environment is quickly changing. Irrefutably, she acknowledges, an understanding of leading practices, thinking, and emerging tools will help women revel in positive results.
“Being a team player not only helps in educating oneself but it also allows you to show what you have in you to offer to others.”
Machine Maker celebrating Woman in Indian Manufacturing is coming out with incredible stories of #Womanufactuirng. If you would like to recommend anyone among you to be featured write to us at info@themachinemaker.com.
