Arifa Shaikh working with the Dapodi plant of Atlas Copco believes several women are building great careers in manufacturing. Social or Cultural bindings are never a hurdle to a woman professional who wants to make it big in life. Modern manufacturing offers a safe and clean working environment for women and offers lifelong learning opportunities
“I feel the general perception of manufacturing sector not suited for women is a Myth because manufacturing provides stable and in-demand careers for women. Modern manufacturing is safe, clean, and high-tech, and it’s a career of lifelong learning”, says Arifa Shaikh in an exclusive interaction with Machine Maker. Arifa completed her Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering from Walchand College of Engineering, Solapur in 2005. She is currently having 13 years of industrial experience, joined Atlas Copco as Call Off & Order Income Engineer in July 2007. Before joining Atlas Copco India Ltd, she worked with Mahle Filters systems (India) Pvt Ltd as Production Engineer.
“Women are smarter equally to men in any technology and ready to learn, and can raise a family along with her professional career”, commented Arifa. She added that today women are working on assembly lines where their hands their clothes are getting dirty. “Only what I feel is for women to balance a personal and professional life, strong family support is required which is again women's quality how to manage office + home with or without support”, added Arifa.
Locally headquartered at Pune, Atlas Copco is a Swedish multinational, offering diversified technology solutions in the field of compressors, generators, pumps, power tools, vacuum solutions, assembly solutions, and many other industry verticals. Atlas Copco is in India for more than 6 decades now, and the company is promoting women in manufacturing by taking almost 50% of ladies on the shop floor at the time of any new requirements, informed Arifa.
Arifa is working as Manager Flow Team and Customer Contact at the Dapodi plant of Atlas Copco. Her current responsibilities include Manpower handling, Productivity, Quality, Delivery, Inventory & Safety of 3 divisions which consist of 50 to 60 people including workers and engineers. “It is always a proud feeling working with Atlas Copco as my journey of 13 years was too inspiring. I am proud of being with Atlas Copco, a decision well made due to the companies policies and culture”, said Arifa.
Indian Society & Culture towards Womanufacturing
Arifa doesn’t think society or culture can come in between a woman who wants to build her career in manufacturing or in any other profession. She says, “when a professional woman will decide to marry she is clear before marriage with social and cultural activities which she has to manage after marriage also”.
It was not easy for Arifa to break the stereotype and enter the manufacturing sector full of men. She struggled for some period where she made herself ready by learning, became more confident, and learned to react. “Frankly speaking, I never faced gender issue in Atlas Copco since my joining date. Rather I have become a stronger and good leader.”
Remembering her days at Walchand College of Engineering, Arifa said that including her there were only two girls and 100 boys in her Mechanical Engineering batch. Arifa’s uncle was a mechanical engineer hence he suggested her to go with mechanical engineering, and her parents never opposed it. “Thanks for their support especially during the first year, we were only 2 girls in mechanical and it was a real challenge for both of us from entering into class to completing daily hours. I still remember and laugh myself because whenever we were entering the class, boys were clapping, making fun of us so it was a bit of a challenging year but from 2nd-year things changed”, shared Arifa Shaikh.
From Mechanical Engineering to Intellectual Engineering
“Times have changed, mechanical engineering is no more male domain now”, says Arifa. All mechanical engineers have to perform more intellectual work. There is no physics like work. Plants are operated by an IT system. For all handling, there are cranes and fork lifters. All office work is connected to the site through the net.
She believes that mechanical engineering has very wide applications in a variety of industries. All departments like design, project, procurement, manufacture, corporate have a female presence also. In this age of equality, both males and females have equal opportunities in the industry. She adds, “Once you join a good industry you can prosper. After engineering, you have big opportunities to study and research. Just score well and develop some additional skills and you will succeed.”
Women are helping to bring inclusiveness in many ways in the manufacturing unit. Mainly men can learn time management from women which is of the best quality women are carrying by balancing personal and professional life. Men can learn dedication towards work and multitasking skills from women which are essential to a growing company.
Move towards Equal Pay, Access & Opportunities
As per Arifa, there are multiple special provisions created for the welfare of women both at the national and international levels, there has been a movement towards the empowerment of women in labour law. There has been a transparent move towards creating equal pay, equal access to opportunity, bar, and redressal of harassment and provision of maternity benefits a reality in India.
The orientation with an organized program of vocational guidance, women can learn what they want to be in life, what she is best capable of doing, her abilities, interests, aptitudes and her limitations. “Manual labour, long working hours, and a not so friendly shop-floor often create a stereotypical impression that causes low numbers of women joining the manufacturing workforce”, comments Arifa.
Arifa believes manufacturing is making a steady comeback. After taking a hit in the Great Recession, the industry is slowly regaining jobs. According to a recent report, manufacturing output has increased 30 per cent since the end of the recession, growing at roughly twice the pace of the economy overall. Initiatives such as the Make in India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, intending to shore-up the manufacturing sector in India, are also helping to revive the industry. As with any industry, some jobs are growing at a faster pace than others and potentially offer more opportunities for people looking for work in manufacturing fields.
Machine Maker celebrating Woman in Indian Manufacturing is coming out with incredible stories of #Womanufactuirng. If you would like to recommend anyone among you to be featured write to us at info@themachinemaker.com
