A ‘solutioneer’ in the making – Meet Rachael!
“Either they let us in, or the door comes off its hinges eventually.”
So, apparently, it’s International Women in Engineering Day (23rd June). Who knew? Let’s face it there’s a day for pretty much everything these days. As a bespoke automation and control systems company, this day has resonated with ALS Mechatronic in particular, as proud employers of a female engineer. It sounds ridiculous that someone’s gender still gets called out like this but like all minorities, the drum needs to be banged to make sure we all hear that inequality still exists. Engineering really is an industry for women as much as it is men as ALS Mechatronic’s Apprentice Engineer, Rachael Green explains: “I like analysing problems and finding solutions (ALS call this ‘solutioneering’). I’ve always enjoyed understanding how things work on a practical level and the different ways we can use technology to achieve goals. Engineering is all about doing exactly that, so it was a natural choice to follow this path.
“There’s still loads of progress to be made to get more women into engineering roles, but things are improving, and there are plenty of opportunities for women to prove that they are just as capable as men in this industry. I went from no experience and putting numbers on wires to programming PLCs in less than two years.
“I’ve always enjoyed the process of making something, so whenever I get the chance to go out and help in the workshop and get my hands dirty building panels, I’m happy to. There is a level of zen that can be achieved when you go through the process of getting the parts delivered, following the technical drawings to build the backplate and wire the components in and end with powering it on and testing it.
“For the programming side of things, I enjoy seeing the programs in action, testing what I’ve written in a practical way. There are usually multiple devices that need to be working together, and its fun to watch a panel you’ve programmed work the way you want it to, from controlling valves, pneumatics, drives and servos, to designing the HMI interface to link everything together. When you can see that something you’ve worked on is good to go, it gives a great sense of accomplishment.
Considering why she thinks there’s not enough women in engineering and what she would say to women thinking about a career in this industry, Rachael believes that in the most part it is probably lack of awareness as to what’s involved and old assumptions. In some cases, sadly, some backward looking, old school employers still exist, and men who don’t see engineering as a ‘job for the girls’, but as Rachael explains: “If you’re a woman and think this career might be for you, go for it! The more of us that take that first step, the easier it gets for others. And if it doesn’t work out for you in one company, there are many more out there. We just have to keep banging on the door. Either they let us in, or the door comes off its hinges eventually.
Rachael joined ALS Mechatronic in September 2019 and is studying her Level 3 Electrical Engineering NVQ (at GlosCol). She is due to complete her qualification later this year but, that’s just the start of a bright, bright future Rachael has ahead of her, and who wants to keep learning, improving and refining her skills: “I don’t just want to be okay at what I do, I want to excel at it. Whether it’s through further education or work experience, I want to become an expert in this field. The work at ALS Mechatronic is very dynamic, and rarely are two jobs exactly the same. The people who work here are friendly and I’ve always felt like I can ask for help when I need it and certainly never feel intimated or not as good as the men I work alongside.
“If you’ve never considered a career in engineering, I’d say now is a really good time to explore the idea. There are so many different engineering fields, there’s bound to be one you find a natural pull towards, and as the world becomes increasingly technologically advanced, our reliance on people who have the skillset required to maintain these systems is only going to increase. We don’t have enough engineers in general, and one of the best ways of addressing that, is to erode away the exclusion (for whatever reason it happens) of half the population from the field.”
