Women in Manufacturing

What Women in Manufacturing does

Women in Manufacturing (WiM) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, founded around 2010-2011 by Allison Roberts Grealis. It is the only national and global trade association specifically dedicated to supporting, promoting, and inspiring women in the manufacturing industry. WiM serves women at every career stage from the shop floor to the C-suite, alongside manufacturing companies seeking to recruit, retain, and advance female talent. Its core offerings include the WIM SUMMIT (2,000+ attendees), the Virtual Learning Series (26,000+ cumulative participants since 2017), 35 US chapters, the WiMWorks Career Center, a Coaching Academy, Registered Apprenticeship Programs, the Hear Her Story podcast, Executive Networking Groups, and the Hall of Fame/Ally Award recognition programs. The affiliated WiM Education Foundation (WiMEF), a 501(c)(3) established ~2016, runs the Leadership Institute, Management Development Program, Women in Production Program, and bi-annual Virtual Career Fairs. Operations are supported by 11-50 staff using Novi AMS for association management.

WiM operates a diversified, membership-anchored revenue model with five distinct streams: corporate membership dues, individual membership dues (professional, professional plus, student, retired, and non-profit tiers on annual billing), event registration fees (e.g., $150-$195 for WiM Connecticut CONNverge), event sponsorships, and tax-deductible donations to WiMEF. Go-to-market is community-led: 35 local chapters drive regional engagement, national events drive marquee visibility, and reciprocal membership bundles with SME and AME (joint price of $257) plus the IMTS ELEVATE partnership with AMT (Sept 2026) extend reach. The customer base spans at least 550 corporate members and 35,000+ individual members across all 50 US states and 70+ countries, with marquee enterprise logos including Toyota, Daimler Truck, Magna International, John Deere, Teijin Holdings USA, PepsiCo, AFL, Perrigo, Ingersoll Rand, and GE Appliances (Haier).

Name

Women in Manufacturing

Legal name

Women in Manufacturing

Website

https://womeninmanufacturing.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Women in Manufacturing (WiM) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association serving women across the manufacturing industry through 35,000+ individual members, 550+ corporate members, 35 US chapters, an annual SUMMIT, education programs via its WiMEF foundation, and reciprocal partnerships with SME, AME, and AMT/IMTS.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Cuyahoga Falls

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Corporate Membership Dues: Manufacturing companies join as corporate members to gain access to networking, professional development, discounted event registration, job posting credits, and visibility within the WiM community. The membership connects employers invested in retaining and advancing women in their workforce.
2. Individual Membership Dues: Individual professionals, students, and retired individuals in manufacturing pay membership dues to access webinars, on-demand content, networking events, and the WiM Weekly newsletter.
3. Event Registration Fees: WiM generates revenue through registration fees for signature events like the annual WIM SUMMIT (October 7-9, 2026 in Las Vegas), chapter events, the HR Roundtable, and other national programs. Fees vary from free for members to $195 for non-members.
4. Event Sponsorships: Companies sponsor WiM events and programs to gain visibility and demonstrate commitment to advancing women in manufacturing. Sponsorship opportunities are available at various levels for events and the annual SUMMIT.
5. WiMEF Donations: The Women in Manufacturing Education Foundation (WiMEF), a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, accepts tax-deductible donations to support educational programming, career pathways, and networks of support for women in manufacturing. Federal Tax ID: 81-0921604.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Women in Manufacturing (WiM) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association that delivers tiered memberships (corporate, individual professional, student, retired, non-profit, professional plus), a national annual conference (WIM SUMMIT), monthly professional development webinars, and a network of 35 regional chapters. The associated WiM Education Foundation (501(c)(3)) provides leadership development programs, scholarships, career fairs, and on-demand learning content for women working in or entering the manufacturing industry.

Product overview

Women in Manufacturing (WiM) operates as a unified association ecosystem consisting of a core trade association (Women in Manufacturing Association) and its 501(c)(3) education arm (WiM Education Foundation). The association offers a comprehensive suite of professional development programs including the annual WIM SUMMIT conference, Virtual Learning Series with monthly webinars, WiMWorks Career Center, Coaching Academy, and Registered Apprenticeship Programs. WiM supports members through 35 local chapters across the United States, Executive Networking Groups, an International Women's Network, and content platforms including the Hear Her Story Podcast. The ecosystem also includes recognition programs such as the Hall of Fame and Ally Award. The WiM Education Foundation focuses on closing the gender gap through leadership development programs, the Leadership Institute, Management Development Program, Women in Production Program, and bi-annual Virtual Career Fairs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WIM Education Foundation (WiMEF): The 501(c)(3) charitable partner of WiM that provides educational opportunities, leadership development programs, and career-building initiatives for women in manufacturing.
• Hear Her Story Podcast
• WIM SUMMIT
• WiMWorks Career Center

Products and services

• WiM Corporate Membership Annual subscription membership for manufacturing companies providing all employees with access to discounted group event registration, preferred rates for WIM Education Foundation programs, up to 10 free job posting credits, one complimentary registration to the Winter Workforce Conference, free monthly webinars, 100+ hours of on-demand content, and networking opportunities.
• WiM Individual Professional Membership Annual subscription membership for individual professionals working within or directly with manufacturers, including networking, professional development, and access to member resources.
• WiM Student Membership Annual subscription membership for individuals currently pursuing education in manufacturing-related fields, designed for high school vocational students through university engineering and operations programs.
• WIM SUMMIT Annual flagship conference of Women in Manufacturing, attracting more than 2,000 manufacturing professionals from across the country. WIM SUMMIT 2026 is scheduled for October 7-9 in Las Vegas and features powerful keynotes, dynamic sessions, and unmatched networking.
• Virtual Learning Series Monthly webinars on professional development topics sponsored by Principal Financial Group and powered by the WiM Education Foundation. Webinars are free for WiM members and $35 for non-members, with 100+ hours of on-demand content in the Virtual Learning Library. Over 26,000 participants have joined since 2017.
• WIM Chapters Network Network of 35 local and statewide chapters across the United States providing opportunities for manufacturing professionals to connect, share knowledge, and build supportive professional communities through plant tours, professional development programs, volunteer initiatives, and networking events.
• WiMWorks Career Center Career center and job board for WiM members, with up to 10 free job posting credits for corporate members per membership tier and career resources for manufacturing professionals.
• Coaching Academy Professional coaching services provided through WIM Services to support leadership development and career advancement for women in manufacturing.
• Hear Her Story Podcast Podcast featuring stories of women in manufacturing, providing representation and inspiration for women considering or advancing in manufacturing careers.
• WIM Hall of Fame Industry award program recognizing outstanding women in manufacturing for their contributions and achievements in the industry.
• WIM Ally Award Industry award program recognizing male allies who support and advance women in manufacturing.
• Executive Networking Groups Peer groups for executive-level leaders providing access to trusted peer relationships, honest feedback, and strategic perspective from manufacturing leaders.
• International Women's Network Global network connecting women in manufacturing across international boundaries through events and programming, including a WiM-sponsored event at AFL's facility in Gliwice, Poland.
• WiM Education Foundation (WiMEF) Programs 501(c)(3) charitable arm of WiM that delivers educational programming, leadership development programs, career pathways, and the bi-annual Virtual Career Fair to support women in manufacturing. Includes Leadership Institute, Management Development Program, Women in Production Program, and other development offerings. 1,300+ leadership graduates and 26,000+ Virtual Learning Series participants since 2017.
• Registered Apprenticeship Programs Workforce development initiative supporting registered apprenticeship programs for manufacturing professionals, helping build the talent pipeline into manufacturing careers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 26,000+ participants in Virtual Learning Series since 2017
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• AMT (Association for Manufacturing Technology)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 March 2026WiM and AMT, the owner of IMTS (International Manufacturing Technology Show), are partnering to produce the IMTS ELEVATE conference at IMTS 2026 in Chicago. The event aims to unite manufacturing professionals across sectors with panels, keynote speeches, and networking to promote women in manufacturing. IMTS 2026 runs September 14-19 at McCormick Place with expected 86,000+ registrants and 1,800 exhibitors.
• SMEcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerWiM offers a reciprocal individual membership with SME, unlocking opportunities for personal and professional growth. Members gain industry insights, leadership skills, and access to partner programs and exclusive events at the forefront of manufacturing sector advancements.
• Association for Manufacturing Excellence (AME)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerWiM's reciprocal membership program with AME allows individuals to join both organizations for $257 total - a 10% discount from individual rates. This partnership enhances professional development opportunities and access to manufacturing excellence resources.
• Principal Financial GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrincipal Financial Group sponsors the Virtual Learning Series, WiM's monthly webinar program powered by the WiM Education Foundation. The series offers professional development topics accessible from anywhere, free for members and $35 for non-members.
• WiM Education Foundation (WiMEF)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerWiMEF is the 501(c)(3) charitable partner of WiM, providing educational programming, career pathways, and networks of support for women in manufacturing. WiMEF delivers year-round education programs that develop durable skills and leadership competencies. The foundation celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2026 and has graduated 1,300+ from leadership programs and engaged 26,000+ in the Virtual Learning Series.
• AFLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFL sponsors and hosts the International Women's Network Event in Poland, bringing WiM's global mission to life through discussions, networking, and a behind-the-scenes tour of AFL's innovative facility in Gliwice, Poland.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Catalyst: Catalyst is a global nonprofit focused on advancing women in the workplace through research and advisory. It is an emerging peer because it competes for corporate DEI and women's-leadership budgets from the same Fortune 500 manufacturers that fund WiM, but at the executive/research tier rather than the practitioner/community tier.
• Society of Women Engineers (SWE): SWE is the largest US association advancing women in engineering and technology. It is an emerging/adjacent peer because its members include women in technical manufacturing roles, and SWE competes for the same corporate sponsorship and individual membership dollars from women working in manufacturing-adjacent STEM fields.
• Women in Technology International (WITI): WITI is a global trade association supporting women in technology. It is an emerging peer because it mirrors WiM's chapter-based, event-driven, sponsorship-funded model and targets the same corporate DEI budgets, particularly for women in manufacturing technology and Industry 4.0 roles.
• Women in HVACR: Women in HVACR is a trade association supporting women in heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration. It is an emerging peer because it uses the identical women-in-a-specific-manufacturing-trade model with chapters, sponsorships, and conferences, representing both a comparable blueprint and a potential substitute for corporate diversity spend.

Others

• American Association of University Women (AAUW): AAUW is a national nonprofit advancing gender equity in education and the workforce. It is thematically related because it shares WiM's mission of advancing women in STEM and non-traditional career paths, but it does not focus on manufacturing specifically and is not a direct competitor for manufacturing corporate sponsorships.
• AMT — The Association For Manufacturing Technology: AMT owns and produces IMTS, the International Manufacturing Technology Show. It is an ecosystem partner rather than direct peer, but is comparable because AMT and WiM are co-producing the ELEVATE conference at IMTS 2026, making AMT both a strategic partner and a benchmark for large-event-driven member value in manufacturing.

Broad incumbents

• National Association of Manufacturers (NAM): NAM is the largest US manufacturing trade association representing the full industry. It is a broad incumbent because it overlaps WiM's corporate-member base and policy advocacy scope, but operates across all manufacturing rather than specializing in women or workforce development.
• The Manufacturing Institute: The Manufacturing Institute is NAM's workforce development and education affiliate. It is a broad incumbent because it competes for corporate dollars aimed at manufacturing talent pipelines, credentials, and image campaigns — directly overlapping WiM's career-center, apprenticeship, and image-of-manufacturing programming.

Direct peers

• SME (Society of Manufacturing Engineers): SME is the largest US professional association for manufacturing engineers and technologists. It is a direct peer because WiM and SME maintain a formal reciprocal membership program, share overlapping individual and corporate member audiences in manufacturing, and compete for the same professional-development dollar.
• Association for Manufacturing Excellence (AME): AME is a manufacturing professional association focused on operational excellence and lean transformation. It is a direct peer because WiM offers a reciprocal individual membership bundle with AME ($257 for both), and the two compete for the same manufacturing practitioner audience and corporate training budgets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/womeninmfg

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Women in Manufacturing