No matter who you are, manufacturing encompasses many pathways job-seekers can find purpose in. From supply chain to executive leadership, manufacturing brings workers together in a shared goal.
Kim Humphrey
President & CEO, Association for Manufacturing Excellence (AME)
When people ask about my career, I sometimes smile at the variety of products I have had the privilege to help build. Over the years, I have been involved in manufacturing printers and copiers, automotive fuel injectors, and some of the most complex engineering achievements in the world, such as U.S. Naval aircraft carriers and submarines. While the products have varied, one thing has remained constant: Manufacturing is ultimately about people.
As a woman in manufacturing in the early years, I often found myself as the only woman in the room. Rather than viewing that as an obstacle, I saw it as an opportunity to learn, contribute, and demonstrate that leadership and excellence know no gender.
Beyond the finished product
One of the most meaningful chapters of my career was my time at Newport News Shipbuilding. There, I had the privilege of supporting the construction and maintenance of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines. Every day, I witnessed extraordinary people performing extraordinary work: welders, engineers, planners, electricians, supply chain professionals, and thousands of craftspeople working together with a common purpose to build ships that protect our nation.
Among the highlights of my career was participating in a naval embarkation aboard the USS Harry S. Truman. Seeing the sailors who serve aboard that remarkable ship gave me an even deeper appreciation for the importance of manufacturing. The work performed by shipbuilders back home enables men and women to stand watch around the world. It reinforced for me that manufacturing is not simply about producing products — it is about supporting missions and serving something larger than ourselves.
Opportunities for everyone
For more than 40 years, Association for Manufacturing Excellence (AME) has brought together manufacturers, leaders, and practitioners who are committed to continuous improvement and people-centered leadership. I have seen firsthand that, when we invest in people, extraordinary things happen — not only in our businesses, but in our communities and our lives.
Today, manufacturing stands at an exciting crossroads. Advanced technologies, artificial intelligence, and reshoring efforts are creating tremendous opportunities. Our greatest challenge remains in developing the next generation of talent.
I want young people entering the workforce to know that manufacturing offers incredible opportunities. Whether in engineering, operations, supply chain, quality, or executive leadership, there is a place for them.
I never set out to become a “woman in manufacturing.” I simply wanted to make a difference. Along the way, I discovered a profession that combines innovation, teamwork, and purpose. Manufacturing built my career, shaped my leadership philosophy, and introduced me to some of the best people I have ever known. And perhaps the greatest lesson I have learned is this: Products may carry the names of companies, but excellence always carries the fingerprints of people. That is the true power of manufacturing.
