At CASE, promoting the skill set of women on the shop floor is an essential part of our commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Satendra Tiwari, Head of Manufacturing, Pithampur, CASE Construction Equipment – India

What is your company’s vision on gender diversity?

At CASE Construction Equipment, we are committed to creating an inclusive and equitable workplace where individuals have equal opportunities for career growth and advancement. Our vision is to achieve equal representation of all genders at all levels of the organization, from entry-level to executive leadership, through proactive recruitment, retention, and development efforts.

How do you look at the journey of women breaking barriers in the construction equipment industry?

The journey of women breaking barriers in the construction equipment industry has been a long and challenging one, but it is a journey that is gradually gaining momentum. Historically, the industry has been male-dominated, with women facing numerous obstacles in pursuing careers in this field. However, with the changing times, women are increasingly breaking the barriers and shattering stereotypes, making significant strides in various roles in the industry. Today, women are holding positions such as engineers, sales representatives, managers, and equipment operators in the construction equipment industry. These women are proving to be skilled and capable, bringing a fresh perspective and diverse ideas to the table. They are also inspiring the next generation of women to pursue careers in the industry and strive for success.

How do you assess scope for gender diversity in your company and what are the initiatives taken as a step forward?

Assessing the scope for gender diversity in our company is an ongoing process that involves regular reviews of our hiring, promotion, and compensation processes. We have taken steps to eliminate any biases in these processes to ensure that all individuals, regardless of gender, have equal opportunities for career growth and advancement. Additionally, we provide training on the shop floor with all technical equipment and expertise available to help our employees develop their skills and advance in their careers. We are committed to creating a more diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected, and we continue to explore new ways to support the career growth and development of all individuals in our company.

What are the major roles assigned to women on the shop floor? And what steps have been initiated to promote their skill set?

At CASE, promoting the skill set of women on the shop floor is an essential part of our commitment to diversity and inclusion. Women are deployed at various stations as operators, performing torquing, preparing machines data and updating machine’s data card. Additionally, they are also involved in New Product Launches, taking care of project individually and keeping adherence to project timeline.

What are the initiatives taken to ensure safety and quality working environment in the company premises?

At CASE’s state-of-the-art Pithampur plant, we have policies in place that outline our commitment to providing a safe and healthy work environment, and we regularly assess our work environment to identify potential hazards and take corrective action to mitigate risks. We provide our employees with the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE), such as safety glasses, gloves, masks, and boots, to protect them from potential hazards. Additionally, we ensure proper ergonomic equipment and training to help employees avoid workplace injuries, such as repetitive strain injuries.

What are the advantages of women workforce on the shop floor / company and how do you think the company is benefitted?

Women on the shop floor can bring a fresh perspective and new ideas to the table. They can offer innovative solutions and creative problem-solving techniques that may not have been previously considered. Additionally, having a diverse workforce, including women, can help companies to attract and retain top talent. This is particularly important in the construction equipment industry, where a skilled workforce is essential. By creating an inclusive workplace culture, we can create a positive work environment that employees want to be a part of. Furthermore, promoting gender equality by empowering and promoting women on the shop floor can lead to greater employee satisfaction, morale, and motivation. This can result in improved productivity, higher-quality work, and increased customer satisfaction.

What is the ratio of women employees on the shop floor / company? What are your plans to improve the same?

At present, we have a ratio of 2% women employees on the shop floor. However, we have set a target to increase the ratio of women employees to 20% across all levels of the company, including the shop floor. Moreover, we plan to deploy 100% women employees on our new product (SSL) assembly line, which is coming up in 2023-2024. We are committed to creating a workplace where all employees feel valued and respected.

How do you look at the challenges, if any, while hiring women on the shop floor and how do you address the same?

One of the major challenges is the gender stereotypes and biases that exist in the industry. There is a perception that certain roles or tasks are more suitable for men than women, which can discourage women from applying for those positions.

To address challenges in hiring women on the shop floor, we can take several steps to promote gender equality and create a more inclusive workplace culture. These include promoting diversity and inclusion through clear policies and guidelines, providing training to employees and management on the importance of diversity and inclusion, actively encouraging women to apply for positions on the shop floor, providing training, developing programs that address the specific needs and challenges of female employees, and addressing gender biases in the workplace by providing unconscious bias training to employees and management.

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