Women in Manufacturing: A Note from Our CEO...
Manufacturing Matters
When people picture a CNC manufacturing company, they rarely picture someone like me running it. After more than 30 years leading ABACORP, I've stopped being surprised by that. What I haven't stopped is wanting to change it.
Precision manufacturing produces the critical components behind motorcycles and automobiles, aerospace and defense systems, and life-saving medical equipment. The people who make those parts should reflect everyone who depends on them. So, I want to share what I've learned about being a woman in this industry, and what I hope comes next.
Building a women-owned shop since 1994...
Rob and I founded ABACORP in October of 1994, but my road to the shop started much earlier. I grew up hanging around Saugus Speedway, and I fell in love with auto shop in high school. At 21, I started working in auto racing and NASCAR. My first job in manufacturing was at Reb-co Racing, just before the Northridge earthquake in 1994. Racing taught me that tolerances matter, that deadlines are real, and that the part either works, or it doesn't.
In those early years, I was often one of few women actively involved. Getting ABACORP off the ground took far more determination and fortitude than I expected. After a full year, we still had just two machines. We kept going anyway, and that stubbornness is a big part of why we're still here. What earned respect was the work. We built a shop that now holds AS9100 certification, runs 3- to 5-axis milling and turning, and meets ITAR and FFL requirements for aerospace, defense, automotive, armament, and medical customers. Quality doesn't care who signs the paperwork. It only cares that the part is right.
The gap is still real...
Women make up roughly half of the U.S. workforce but only about one third of manufacturing workers, and far fewer machinists and shop owners.
That gap isn't just a fairness issue. It's a workforce issue. Shops across the country can't fill skilled positions, and we're leaving half the talent pool on the sidelines. Every young woman who never considers a manufacturing career is a programmer, inspector, or future shop leader our industry won't get.
The reasons are familiar: few visible role models, outdated ideas about what shop work looks like, and career paths no one explained in school. All of those are fixable.
What we do about it at ABACORP...
I can't fix the whole industry, but I can shape our shop. Here's where we focus:
We hire for potential. Many of our best people came in with curiosity, not a full résumé. We train machinists in-house and bring on engineering interns who learn about real production work.
We make leadership visible. When young people tour our shop, they see women and men in engineering, quality, tooling, and the front office. You can't become what you've never seen.
We show up. Manufacturing events, high schools, colleges, job fairs, and adult schools.
We build careers, not just jobs. Our people grow into new roles. Some of our leaders today started in very different seats.
My advice to women considering manufacturing...
1. Start before you feel ready. Take the shop class, apply for the internship, ask for the tour. Confidence comes from doing.
2. Learn the machines, even if you want the office. Understanding how a part is made will make you better in any role, from sales to leadership.
3. Find people who'll vouch for you. A mentor gives advice. A sponsor puts your name forward. Look for both.
4. Don't shrink your questions. In precision work, the person who asks is the person who catches the mistake.
5. Remember the industry needs you. You're not asking for a favor. You're filling a real need.
The next 30 years...
When we started in 1994, woman-owned manufacturing was a rarity. I hope that in another 30 years, it won't even be worth mentioning.
We'll get there one hire, one tour, and one conversation at a time. If you're a student, a parent, a teacher, or someone thinking about a career change, I'd love to hear from you. And if you're a customer looking for a precision partner that values quality and people, our door is open.
Kim Frankel, CEO
ABACORP CNC Machined Parts
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