The Manufacturing Institute, an affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers, has named Suzanne Mitchell, Plant Manager at ABB’s Columbus location, as an Honoree for the 2022 STEP Ahead Awards. The awards were created to inspire manufacturers to bridge the gender gap in manufacturing and focus attention on the widespread impact women have on shaping the industry in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Production.
Suzanne Mitchell joined ABB’s NEMA Motors Division in 2020 as the second female Plant Manager of the Columbus manufacturing facility in the division’s 100-year history. Suzanne’s extensive manufacturing experience and Lean Six Sigma accreditation have proven beneficial by improving plant efficiency by 15 percent and adding $700K in profitability. She has helped ABB become #1 among competitors in Industrial NEMA Motors while creating a 3-year strategy for becoming a Smart, Connected Factory.
Suzanne has also immersed herself in the Columbus community, leading philanthropic efforts for the United Way, and serving on the Advisory Board of the East Mississippi Community College where she created internships for technical/trade programs to bring in talent for ABB. She serves as a mentor to women in her field and also served as former chair of the Southeast Regional Encompass Women’s Virtual Chapter. She is an advocate for women, particularly those in manufacturing, and has held roles in quality, manufacturing engineering, plant management and business unit quality systems and lean management.
The 2022 STEP Ahead Award recipients will be honored in a ceremony on April 28 at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C.
