Women in Welding

While women hold many rules in the steel industry, the lucrative area of welding has been an exception. But that’s changing, including here in the Midwest.

“Welding: a Viable Option for Women,” from The Fabricator magazine, points this out through the eyes of Rachel Koon of Charleston, S.C. She followed her husband into the sheet metal industry and is now a exceptional welder. "A lot of women think it's hot and sweaty and dangerous. It's very safe," said Koon. "It's a great way to support your family,” Read more about it here.

In Cleveland, welding instructor Richard Hart teaches a 3-year arc welding and job placement course called “Project WELD” (worthy employment leadership development). The freshman class is 50% women. The complete article, from Welding Design & Fabrication, is here.

But the best is happening here. This year, alone, Moraine Park, Wisconsin Indianhead, and Northeast Wisconsin Technical Colleges were among those hosting special events and courses specific to Women in Welding.

The future looks bright indeed.

Government Contracts

Doing business with the Federal government can reap huge rewards. Yet, getting there can be a daunting task. Northeast Wisconsin’s Insight Magazine (“connecting business and people in the New North) takes a look at several manufacturers and what it took to get involved.

With time, patience and the right strategy, the projects are a big opportunity for component makers, providers of manufacturing services such as machining or welding, as well as services like painting, electrical or maintenance. More importantly, though, is having a company culture that lets you become a trusted part of one of the supply chain, one that fosters information sharing, continuous quality improvement and cost reductions.

You can read the full article here.

For more, read “What It Really Takes to Do Business with the Federal Government” from the American Express Open Forum newsletter.