BorgWarner Supply Chain Manager Receives Women in Manufacturing STEP Ahead Award

9/28/20

Per BorgWarner, headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, Supply Chain Manager Kelly Zhu is a recipient of a Women in Manufacturing Science, Technology, Engineering and Production (STEP) Ahead Award for demonstrating exceptional leadership skills in the workplace. The fourth consecutive BorgWarner employee to achieve this recognition, Zhu is one of 100 exemplary women to earn this annual award.

Felecia Pryor, VP and Chief HR Officer at BorgWarner stated that, “Kelly has embodied hard work, mentorship and leadership throughout her time at BorgWarner, and is incredibly deserving of this honor. Her passion, natural business acumen and energy make her an excellent role model for other employees across the company. She is consistently on the lookout for educational opportunities that foster growth for our employees; she helps set the tone for careers at BorgWarner and we couldn’t be more pleased to have her as a part of our team.

Zhu began her career at BorgWarner as a warehouse supervisor in BorgWarner’s Ningbo, China plant. Through years of dedication and continuous growth in her skillset, Zhu earned increasing responsibilities as production supervisor, production manager, program manager and product line manager before she reached her current role. Today, she is focused on building a high-performance team and strives to develop the younger generation.

On the Manufacturing Institute award site, Kelly shared on the importance of continuous improvement, “Manufacturing is full of challenges and freshness in daily work. We need continuous improvement with rapidly changing technologies, costs and customer preference to stay competitive. Here we always meet diverse people and learn from each other to be better each day.”

The Manufacturing Institute hosted the 2020 STEP Ahead Awards on September 24th, honoring 130 women in manufacturing for their leadership within the industry and the example they set for other women in manufacturing.

Here are a few key quotes from the speakers:

• STEP Chair Erika Peterman, BASF senior vice president for chemical intermediates North America, said, “[In the future], women will continue to be key contributors to our economy. . . . Manufacturing in the future may not look like it does today, but it will be around, and there will be opportunities for professional growth for all workers. And lastly, STEP Ahead will continue to provide programs and forums that foster and encourage females to enter the world of manufacturing and pursue their careers.”
• Manufacturing Institute Executive Director Carolyn Lee: “The most famous symbol of manufacturing in America is a woman, Rosie the Riveter. Rosie inspired women to work in America’s arsenal of democracy during WWII. Today, manufacturers have mobilized to fight a new war, against COVID-19. . . . And that wouldn’t be possible without a dedicated, talented, innovative and diverse workforce. And that includes the women we honor here tonight, who will inspire a new generation.”
• NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons: “I couldn’t wait to raise a glass to all of you tonight. . . . I can’t think of anyone I’d rather toast than the women of manufacturing, because you are the backbone. . . . Our industry will rise to any challenge, so long as talented and driven and heroic women are leading the charge. That’s our past, that’s our present, and there is no doubt that’s our future.”

Access the complete listing of all 2020 Step Ahead Nominees here.

APICS Greater Detroit is committed to helping supply chain professionals at all stages of their careers. We join the Manufacturing Institute in celebrating the importance of women in manufacturing and congratulating Kelly Zhu and all of the 130 women recognized for their leadership!