READ MORE: If the Shoe Fits: How Two Women Manage Lean Transformations
Shannon Karels, a senior operations manager, and Kathy Miller, a senior operations executive, use their collective experience to share knowledge about supply chain leadership and the journey to transform a traditional manufacturing plant into a lean enterprise.
The title of the book, Steel Toes and Stilettos: A True Story of Women Manufacturing Leaders and Lean Transformation Success, makes it clear that the narrative is told from a woman’s perspective. “We wanted to show that, as women in manufacturing, you can be yourself,” said Karels.
But the pair also maintain that the lessons and advice are universally applicable. “We felt like we had a really good story about business transformation that was comprehensive, around creating an inclusive manufacturing culture and in converting processes from batch manufacturing to lean,” said Miller.
In this interview with Machine Design, the authors provide a glimpse into their careers, their passion for lean, high-performance teams, overcoming power dynamics and taking criticism.
Editor’s Note: Machine Design's Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) hub compiles our coverage of gender representation issues affecting the engineering field, in addition to contributions from equity seeking groups and subject matter experts within various subdisciplines.