Criterion’s DiSalvo Recognized With Women in Manufacturing Award

The Manufacturing Institute recently awarded 160 recipients with the Women in Manufacturing STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering and Production) Award. The STEP Awards honor women who have demonstrated excellence and leadership in their careers and represent all levels of the manufacturing industry, from the factory floor to the C suite.

Among those receiving this year’s award is Tanya DiSalvo, president of Criterion Tool in Brook Park, Ohio, which makes precision-machined implants, instruments and diagnostic instrumentation for medical device companies. The company manufactures prototype and production components for Class II and Class III medical devices for development, testing, proof of concept and clinical trials, using state-of-the-art CNC five-axis milling, turning and Swiss turning.

DiSalvo received her bachelor’s degree in marketing from Bowling Green State University. DiSalvo also is vice president of the Cleveland (Ohio) chapter of the National Tooling and Machining Association, a board member of the Alliance for Working Together, and holds memberships in BioOhio, WIRE-Net and the Precision Machined Products Association. DiSalvo also serves on the editorial advisory board for Medical Product Outsourcing’s sister publication, Orthopedic Design & Technology.

“These 160 women are the faces of exciting careers in manufacturing,” said Jennifer McNelly, president of the Manufacturing Institute. “These women were selected 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.

“I am extremely proud and honored to be part of such an outstanding group of professional women who will be receiving the STEP Award from the Manufacturing Institute,” DiSalvo told MPO. “It is thrilling to see the face of manufacturing in America continue to grow.”

A recent survey from Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute found that nearly 82 percent of American manufacturing companies have a moderate to severe shortage of available, qualified workers. Contributing to this gap is the under-representation of women in the industry. While women make up approximately 50 percent of the labor force, that number is only about 24 percent in the manufacturing labor force.

On Feb. 6, the Manufacturing Institute recognized the 160 recipients from more than 110 companies at the STEP Awards gala in Washington, D.C. The program  highlighted each honoree’s story, including her leadership and accomplishments in manufacturing.

“By telling the real stories of these women, we will inspire the next generation of talent to pursue careers in the industry and support current female talent within the manufacturing industry,” McNelly said.

Besides the other honorees representing various industries like food, aerospace, automotive and chemical, medical technology professionals (along with DiSalvo) representing Medtronic Inc., Johnson & Johnson’s Codman Neuro division and Bausch & Lomb, also received the award.