LATROBE, Pa., Jan. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Kennametal Inc. (NYSE: KMT) announced today that Quality Assurance Manager Helen Patricia received honors in the 2nd Women in Manufacturing STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering and Production) Awards presented by The Manufacturing Institute. Ms. Patricia was selected with 160 other woman recognized at all levels, from the factory floor to the C-suite, for demonstrating leadership excellence in modern manufacturing.
"These 160 women are the faces of exciting careers in manufacturing," said Jennifer McNelly, president, The Manufacturing Institute. "We chose to honor these women because they each made significant achievements in manufacturing through positive impact on their company and the industry as a whole. The STEP Awards are part of the larger STEP Ahead initiative launched to examine and promote the role of women in the manufacturing industry through recognition, research, and best practices for attracting, advancing, and retaining strong female talent."
A recent survey from Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute found that nearly 70 percent of American manufacturing companies have a moderate to severe shortage of available, qualified workers.
"Throughout my career manufacturing has provided constant opportunities to challenge myself," said Ms. Patricia. "There are so many facets to the manufacturing supply chain with endless opportunities to learn and contribute. Every day that I spend in a manufacturing environment, I learn something new and find a way to make a difference."
Ms. Patricia joins two other women from Kennametal, Colleen Cordova and Martina Igel, who received the honor in 2013. For more information on Ms. Patricia's achievements, please visit a link to her profile.
On February 6, The Manufacturing Institute will recognize 160 recipients of the STEP Awards at a reception in Washington, D.C. The STEP Awards program will highlight each honoree's story, including their leadership and accomplishments in manufacturing.
About The Manufacturing Institute
The Manufacturing Institute (the Institute) is the 501(c)(3) affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers. As a non-partisan organization, the Institute is committed to delivering leading-edge information and services to the nation's manufacturers. The Institute is the authority on the attraction, qualification and development of world-class manufacturing talent. For more information, please visit www.themanufacturinginstitute.org.
About Kennametal Inc.
Celebrating its 75th year as an industrial technology leader, Kennametal Inc. delivers productivity to customers seeking peak performance in demanding environments. The company provides innovative wear-resistant products, application engineering and services backed by advanced material science, serving customers in 60 countries across diverse sectors of aerospace, earthworks, energy, industrial production, transportation and infrastructure. With approximately 14,000 employees and nearly $3 billion in sales, the company realizes half of its revenue from outside North America, and 40% globally from innovations introduced in the past five years. Recognized among the "World's Most Ethical Companies" (Ethisphere); "Outstanding Corporate Innovator" (Product Development Management Association); and "America's Safest Companies" (EHS Today) with a focus on 100% safety, Kennametal and its foundation invest in technical education, industrial technologies and material science to deliver the promise of progress and economic prosperity to people everywhere. For more information, visit the company's website at www.kennametal.com
SOURCE Kennametal Inc.
Kennametal Media Relations, Christina Sutter, 724-539-5708; Kennametal Investor Relations, Quynh McGuire, 724-539-6559
