As the aerospace sector continues to grapple with skills shortages and rising production demands, International Women’s Day offers a timely moment to reflect on the changing shape of the industry’s workforce. For many companies operating in advanced manufacturing and metrology, the conversation is less about celebration and more about recognising the practical role women already play in keeping complex aerospace supply chains moving. Derby-based metrology specialist AddQual Ltd says the growing importance of data, automation and digital manufacturing is reshaping the skills required in the sector — creating opportunities for a broader and more diverse engineering workforce.
While aerospace has historically been perceived as male-dominated, the reality inside modern manufacturing facilities is evolving. From data analysts and metrology specialists to design engineers and materials scientists, women are increasingly present in roles that underpin product quality, certification and safety. According to Ben Anderson, Managing Director of AddQual, the shift reflects a broader transformation in how aerospace companies operate.
“Modern aerospace manufacturing isn’t just about machining metal anymore,” he said. “It’s about interpreting complex data, understanding systems, and making fast, informed decisions. Those skills aren’t tied to any particular background — they’re about engineering curiosity and analytical thinking.”
AddQual works with aerospace manufacturers and repair organisations to capture and structure inspection data from advanced metrology equipment, helping engineers make faster decisions about component quality and repair viability. In many cases, that work places engineers directly at the intersection of manufacturing, digital technology and quality assurance. “Metrology is a good example of how the industry is changing,” Anderson explained. “You might have someone operating a CMM one minute, analysing structured inspection data the next, and feeding insights back into the manufacturing process. It’s highly technical work, but it’s also collaborative and problem-solving driven.”
Across the aerospace sector, employers are increasingly aware that attracting a wider pool of engineering talent is essential to sustaining growth. Aircraft production rates are rising, maintenance and repair operations are expanding, and supply chains remain under pressure to deliver more parts with greater traceability and compliance. Against that backdrop, the industry’s future workforce will need to be comfortable working with digital tools, automation systems and large volumes of engineering data — areas where many younger engineers, including women entering the profession, are already thriving.
Anderson believes the conversation around women in aerospace is gradually shifting from representation to capability.
“The women we see working in aerospace today are there because they’re excellent engineers,” he said. “They’re solving real problems in manufacturing, quality and data analysis. That’s what matters — competence, insight and the ability to improve how things are done.” He adds that as aerospace manufacturing becomes increasingly data-driven, the industry will continue to benefit from engineers who bring different perspectives to complex technical challenges.
“Innovation in aerospace rarely comes from doing things the way they’ve always been done,” Anderson said. “The more varied the thinking around the table, the better the solutions tend to be.” For companies like AddQual, which operate at the cutting edge of digital metrology and quality engineering, the focus remains firmly on building teams capable of navigating the increasingly sophisticated manufacturing environment that aerospace demands.
International Women’s Day, Anderson says, serves less as a milestone and more as a reminder of the direction the industry is already heading. “Aerospace is evolving quickly,” he said. “The engineers shaping that future will come from many different backgrounds. What unites them is a shared drive to solve difficult technical problems — and that’s exactly what this industry needs.”
