Hands-on technical training
Curriculum in machining, robotics assembly, quality control, and digital shop-floor tools—designed for learners who may be new to technical fields.
SWF • Precision Robotics Manufacturing
Building Equitable Pathways into the Future of Manufacturing
A national model redesigning workforce culture, training, and advancement so women can thrive in precision robotics manufacturing.
The industries of the future—AI, robotics, and advanced manufacturing—are growing rapidly, yet women remain significantly underrepresented in the roles that will shape the next generation of U.S. innovation. SWF connects hands-on training with workplace culture transformation so women not only access these jobs, but advance and lead within them.
The Program
Preparing women for high-wage roles in precision robotics manufacturing
SWF is a comprehensive training and workplace transformation program that connects women to high-quality jobs in robotics-enabled manufacturing while helping employers redesign culture for long-term equity and retention.
Culture, safety, and belonging
Integrated learning around safety, teamwork, communication, and navigating traditionally male-dominated environments.
Career pathways & advancement
Clear on-ramps into high-demand roles, plus coaching on advancement, promotion pathways, and long-term career planning.
Curriculum
What participants learn
Foundations
Shop safety, measurement and precision, print reading, and applied math for machining and quality control.
Robotics-integrated manufacturing
Machine operation, robotics systems used on the factory floor, quality processes, and troubleshooting.
Career, leadership & culture
Communication, teamwork, navigating bias, self-advocacy, and understanding advancement frameworks within partner employers.
Cohort Experience
How the program unfolds
1
Recruitment & onboarding
Participants are recruited with local partners, oriented to the program, and welcomed into a supportive cohort.
2
Training & applied learning
Hands-on labs, simulations, and projects aligned to real roles in regional manufacturing facilities.
3
Placement & ongoing support
Graduates transition into roles with partner employers, supported by coaching and employer-aligned culture standards.
Workplace Culture Standards
Redesigning workplaces so women can thrive
SWF pairs training for workers with a standards-based framework for employers. Together, we build environments where women can safely enter, stay, and advance in robotics-enabled manufacturing roles.
Why Culture Matters
Skills alone are not enough
Women entering advanced manufacturing often encounter environments that were not designed with them in mind: unsupported caregiving responsibilities, inconsistent safety practices, and cultures that normalize bias.
Our standards respond to these realities with concrete expectations, tools, and supports that employers can adopt and adapt to their context.
Core Standards
Four areas of focus for equitable workplaces
Equity & belonging
Inclusive teams, prevention of harassment and discrimination, and voice in decision-making.
Safety & well-being
Physical and psychological safety, clear reporting pathways, and proactive responses to harm.
Advancement & accountability
Transparent promotion criteria, fair evaluations, pay equity, and leadership accountability.
Care, flexibility & life outside work
Scheduling, leave, and benefits that reflect real caregiving and community responsibilities.
Impact & Research
Learning in public as we build a national model
We measure outcomes for workers, employers, and regions—and share what we learn with the field.
Impact Framework
What we track
Participant outcomes
Entry, completion, placement, wages, advancement, and worker experience over time.
Employer outcomes
Retention, safety, representation, and adoption of equity-centered practices.
Regional outcomes
Strengthened local manufacturing ecosystems and scalable pathways into high-wage work.
Sample Metrics
What success looks like
Entry
Number and percentage of women entering robotics-enabled manufacturing roles.
Retention
Retention rates for SWF participants compared to site baselines.
Advancement
Promotions and wage growth over time for SWF graduates.
Culture
Improvements in safety, belonging, and equity indicators inside partner workplaces.
Partners
Building this model together
SWF is built with colleges, employers, workforce organizations, funders, and research partners who believe in an equitable future for advanced manufacturing.
Who We Work With
Partnerships across the ecosystem
Colleges & training providers
Co-design and deliver curriculum, host cohorts, and connect learners to supports.
Employers
Provide work-based learning, hire graduates, and implement culture standards.
Workforce & community organizations
Support recruitment, outreach, wraparound services, and regional coordination.
Funders & research partners
Invest in pilots, evaluation, and scale while helping share lessons learned.
Our Network
Founding and pilot partners
Get Involved
Help build the future of equitable manufacturing
Whether you’re a potential participant, employer, educator, funder, or community partner, there are ways to plug into SWF as we launch this model.
Individuals & future participants
Share your interest in joining a future cohort and get updates on locations and timelines.
Employers
Host work-based learning, hire graduates, and implement workplace culture standards.
Colleges & workforce organizations
Collaborate on curriculum, wraparound supports, and ecosystem building.
Funders & research partners
Support pilot implementation, evaluation, and storytelling for the broader field.
Stay Connected
Sign up for updates
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News & Updates
Follow the progress of SWF
Stories, announcements, and reflections from the team and our partners as we build and test this national model.
Featured
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Month 00, 202X · Category
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Announcement
Pilot site selection update
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Brief description of a pilot site, region, or partner announcement.
Story
A participant perspective
Month 00, 202X
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Research
Early learning brief
Month 00, 202X
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About SWF
Transforming the Future of Technical Work
SWF is building an equitable, national model for precision robotics and advanced manufacturing— one that opens high-wage technical roles to women and reshapes workplace culture for long-term success.
We align training, job quality, and employer demand into a single, accountable system—grounded in intentional design, real-world validation, and continuous feedback from the people closest to the work.
Why SWF
A workforce gap we can’t ignore
SWF was created in response to a widening gap: the industries defining the next generation of American innovation— robotics, automation, and advanced manufacturing—are growing faster than the workforce that will power them. Women, especially in rural communities, remain dramatically underrepresented in these roles.
Through research, field partnerships, and cross-sector collaboration, we recognized the need for a model that integrates both technical training and workplace culture transformation. SWF brings these components together so women not only access high-quality jobs, but thrive and advance within them.
Mission & Vision
What we’re here to build
Mission
Expand access to high-wage technical careers for women
We design training, workplace systems, and regional partnerships that make these pathways possible—especially in rural and underserved communities.
Vision
Women shaping the industries powering American innovation
We envision a workforce where opportunity is equitable, workplaces support all workers, and women fully participate in the economic transformation underway across the U.S.
What success means
Outcomes that show up on the floor
Safer jobs, higher skills, better pay, stronger retention, and improved production outcomes—validated in real workplaces.
What We Do
A comprehensive workforce model
Technical Training
A hands-on, industry-aligned curriculum that prepares participants for robotics-integrated roles.
Workplace Culture Transformation
Standards and practices that support equity, belonging, safety, and advancement for women technicians.
Regional Partnerships
Collaboration with colleges, workforce programs, and employers to scale this model nationally.
How We Work
Designed for integrity first, scale second
Our staffing model is intentionally phased to ensure resources are invested where they create the greatest long-term value. We prioritize design quality and trust-building first, then proof and adoption, and finally systems-level integration and scale.
Phase 1
Design & Trust-Building
Work closely with workers, employers, and training partners to develop certifications and curricula rooted in real roles.
Phase 2
Proof & Employer Adoption
Launch, refine, and support adoption so training leads to job quality gains and improved business outcomes.
Phase 3
Systems Integration & Replication
Build capacity for policy alignment, public systems integration, and replication across regions and sectors.
Accountability
Built with—and accountable to—the ecosystem
Training providers and educators
Robotics manufacturers and integrators
Workers and labor organizations
Certifying bodies and public systems
Dedicated roles for curriculum, industry partnerships, worker engagement, and evaluation ensure insights flow continuously across this ecosystem. Feedback from the shop floor informs program design; employer data validates relevance and impact; and outcome measurement guides ongoing improvement.
Our Team
The people behind SWF
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Work with us to build the next generation of the manufacturing workforce.
Explore partnership opportunities, join our research network, or help support the first cohort.