Robotics and other pieces of automation make it possible for a wider range of employees to handle hefty projects on the plant floor. After all, there's no need to muscle a piece in and out of a machine if a robot can be programmed to do the same work at a touch of a button — or even do the work autonomously.
But the work related to making those automation systems and getting them to work is still extensively populated by a male workforce.
At Automate 2024 in Chicago May 6-9, which bills itself as the world's biggest robotics and automation trade show, a keynote presentation and panel discussion will shine a light on women in the industry who can be part of "the transformative potential of the next 60 years in the industry."
The Women's Empowerment Forum on May 8 will be free to all attendees at Automate. Daniela Rus, a roboticist and computer scientist who leads the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, will be the keynote speaker. Marina Bill of ABB Robotics, Adi Leviatan of 3M and Microsoft's Rashmi Misra will take part in the panel discussion.
"As technology continues to evolve and its economic impact grows at an unprecedented rate, the need for diverse voices in the conversation has never been more critical," said Deb Kling, vice president of marketing for Automate organizers at the Association for Advancing Automation.
"We're witnessing a growing presence of female talents," added officials with United Robotics Group, a company that counts Nadja Schmiedl, chief technical officer, among its leaders. United Robotics and Teradyne are sponsors of the forum.