The manufacturing industry is known to contribute a substantial amount of money to the US economy, as much as $2.81 trillion reported in Q4 of 2022. If demand continues for goods and services worldwide, manufacturing companies will always be in business and in need of employees. Currently, the manufacturing sector employs 13 million workers, with women making up 32%, an increase from 26% in 2020. Still, it isn’t seen as the norm for women to work in the manufacturing industry, even with nearly 75% of women in manufacturing actively recommending a career in the industry.
As we continue to work toward more diverse and inclusive environments in the manufacturing industry, it is important to highlight where that representation exists to increase awareness of the many opportunities this industry has to offer. One way Bay Cities has celebrated women in the industry is by hosting the Women in Manufacturing organization at our plant in Pico Rivera, CA to highlight our extensive fleet of innovative printing and die-cutting machines and give a closer look at what it means to be a part of the Bay Cities team.
Women in Manufacturing is the only national and global trade association dedicated to providing year-round support to women who have chosen a career in the manufacturing industry. With over 18,000 individual members to date, WIM works toward a world in which a diverse and inclusive manufacturing sector offers equitable opportunities and rewarding careers for all people. We are proud to be able to show some of the next wave of women workers what we do and encourage them to pursue a career if interested.
We took some time to sit down with one of our top machine operators in the plant – who happens to also be a woman – and give her the opportunity to share how her experience in this industry has been, as well as during her tenure at Bay Cities.
Meet Jazmin Palomera, our Oppliger Operator.
Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself, where you grew up, and what other jobs you had before entering the manufacturing industry.
A: I was born in Mexico, and grew up on a ranch near Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco. When I was young, I liked to do many activities at school: I played volleyball, danced, liked going to the beach, and cooking. Before starting here at Bay Cities, I worked at a special occasion dress store and in a biscuit factory.
Q: How did you get into the manufacturing industry? What prompted you to start a career in manufacturing?
A: I started working at Bay Cities initially for a temporary job through an agency, and then as there was more work, I continued to stay and eventually turned this into my career for the last 27 years.
Q: What is your current role and responsibilities?
A: I am an Oppliger Operator, and my main responsibilities are focused on safety protocol and quality control.
Q: What machines have you operated during your career?
A: I am qualified to operate a Post Gluer, Oppliger, ATM, Taper, and Small Gluer.
Q: Tell me about a day in the life of Production?
A: I come to work on time, and we start our day by stretching our bodies before every shift. Then I report to my machine, program the computer, check the schedule and assess the factory ticket to see what project I have to run, work on each project, take my breaks, and I am off by 3:30 pm.
Q: Have you faced any challenges as a woman in a male-dominated environment and as a woman in leadership? How have you dealt with these challenges?
A: Yes, many. I face challenges primarily with maturity and responsibility of other employees, but I never let personal stuff affect my professional work performance.
Q: What is the best part about your job? Why?
A: The best part of my job is that it became my career! I was just a temp worker and now I have been a part of this team for over 2 decades.
Q: What has changed for women since you started your career?
A: In the past, it was more difficult to move up in position and you were not given the opportunity as much, but it is different now. For example, it took me 9 years to be able to climb up to my current position and they have continued to give me the opportunities to continue surpassing myself.
Q: What should the manufacturing industry do to attract more women?
A: That’s tough to say overall because so much is being done that I have seen, and I believe that Bay Cities does an excellent job at opening a lot of doors for new opportunities for both men and women all the time.
Q: If you had to give advice to women seeking a career in manufacturing, what would it be?
A: Always be open to learning new things and persevere through it all.
Q: What does it mean to be 1 of only 5 women currently working at the Bay Cities plant? How does that affect your view of the industry?
A: I’m so proud to be a part of the Bay Cities team, which give women the opportunity to learn and move up in the company. I don’t think it affects my view of the industry in a negative way, I think it’s great to be a part of a team that is always striving to be more inclusive and who knows the importance of representation.
Outside of highlighting the women that work in our plant, we want to encourage anyone interested in the manufacturing industry to give Bay Cities a chance. As the leading creative packaging and design partner for over 65 years, we focus on high-quality displays just as much as we focus on company culture as an equal-opportunity employer. Take a look at our open positions and apply if you feel you’d be a good fit for us.