Every year on 23rd June, International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) shines a spotlight on the contributions women make across engineering. Launched by the Women’s Engineering Society in 2014, it has become a global celebration, recognising both the progress made and the people driving it forward.
At Gemba, engineering takes many forms. Whether it is designing a process, building confidence in a team, or helping manufacturers improve day-to-day operations, it is not just about machines. It is about people, insight and action. That is where Maddie Fleming comes in.
As a CI, Training & Support Engineer, Maddie supports manufacturers on their continuous improvement journeys. Her own route into engineering was shaped early, growing up in a family of engineers going back generations.
“I spent a lot of time with my dad in his factory,” she recalls. “Watching him make amazing things out of lumps of steel. One day it might become a train part, the next a truck component. At five years old, that’s pretty cool to see.”
Her work now involves data, training and change, but for Maddie, it still carries the same sense of creativity and construction. “I may not be shaping metal,” she says, “but I’m still creating something – a more efficient process, a stronger team, a working environment that people feel proud of.”
Shifting Mindsets on the Shop Floor
Maddie often describes herself as “The Awakener”, a title that hints at how she sees her role. Whether delivering training, running workshops, or supporting a new system setup, her aim is to help teams think differently about how they work.
She is passionate about sharing knowledge, not just fixing problems. “It’s about giving people the tools and motivation to continue improving long after we’ve gone,” she says. That could mean reducing waste, resolving long-standing issues, or simply showing a team how capable they already are.
No two weeks look the same. Some days are spent on site with customers, others at her desk offering support or configuring software, but the outcome is what matters most.
“Every time a project wraps up and you can see how the customer’s benefiting, that’s the reward,” she says. “Seeing change is always rewarding.”
Engineering Without the Labels
Being the only woman on Gemba’s engineering team has never felt like a barrier for Maddie. She has worked in manufacturing for years and grew up with three brothers, so the dynamic feels familiar rather than unusual.
“I just get treated as one of the lads,” she says. “I’ve never found that offensive – it’s always been about mutual respect.”
That said, she is encouraged by how things are changing across the industry. On recent visits to customers in sectors like automotive and motorsport, she has noticed more women stepping into engineering roles, and it is something she is genuinely glad to see.
Advice She’d Pass On
For those unsure about whether engineering is for them, Maddie offers simple, honest advice.
“It’s okay to feel uncertain or doubt yourself. I did,” she says. “When I left school, girls were often pushed toward things like hairdressing or beauty. But engineering will challenge you in the best ways – and it will show you how resilient and capable you really are.”
Looking back, she says she would tell her younger self to embrace the nerves.
“It’s not weakness – it just means you care. Trust your gut. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.”
Curiosity, Craft and Confidence
What keeps Maddie motivated is the variety of her work and the sense of impact. She lights up when talking about being on site and seeing how things are made, especially when there is new technology involved.
“I love watching things being built,” she says. “And seeing how Gemba’s software can fit into that to help create a world-class process – that’s what excites me.”
For Maddie, engineering is not about job titles or qualifications. It is about thinking differently, asking good questions, and helping others succeed.
Celebrating Progress for International Women in Engineering Day
International Women in Engineering Day is a chance to highlight stories like Maddie’s – grounded in experience, full of energy, and rooted in curiosity. Her role reflects what engineering looks like today: collaborative, practical and centred around people as much as processes.
At Gemba, we are proud to support the engineers helping factories work better every day, and proud to celebrate the people behind that progress.