MSA's Anne Herman Recognized with Women in Manufacturing STEP Award

PITTSBURGH, Jan. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Anne Herman, Director of Global Quality for MSA (NYSE: MSA), the world's leading manufacturer of safety products, has been recognized by The Manufacturing Institute, Deloitte, the University of Phoenix, and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers as one of 122 women in the U.S. who are making meaningful contributions to the manufacturing industry.  Ms. Herman will receive this first-time Women in Manufacturing STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering and Production) Award at a gala dinner on February 5 in Washington, D.C.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130117/NE44323 )

"This recognition is well deserved and reflects the many contributions Anne has made to MSA over her many years with the company," said William M. Lambert, MSA President and CEO.  "Anne possesses broad expertise in R&D, quality, standards compliance, and operations engineering, and she is without question a leader in our industry.  It's great to know a program such as the STEP Award exists to recognize and honor those women who are truly advancing the manufacturing industry overall, and we are honored – and proud – to have Anne as a member of our operations team."

"These 122 women are the faces of exciting careers in manufacturing," said Jennifer McNelly, President, The Manufacturing Institute.  "We chose to honor these women because they each made significant achievements in manufacturing through positive impact on their company and the industry as a whole."   

The STEP Awards – part of a larger initiative launched by The Manufacturing Institute, Deloitte, the University of Phoenix, and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers – examines and promotes the role of women in manufacturing through recognition, research and best practices for attracting, advancing and retaining strong female talent.

"The STEP Ahead initiative was founded to change perceptions of the manufacturing industry and create new opportunities for women in the sector," said Latondra Newton, group vice president at Toyota Motor North America, Inc. and chairwoman of the STEP Ahead initiative. "This initiative is the call for action to transform the face of today's manufacturing talent and ensure that women can contribute to the future of this industry."

On February 5, The Manufacturing Institute and its STEP Ahead initiative partners will recognize the 122 honorees of the STEP Awards at a reception in Washington, D.C. The STEP Awards program will highlight each honoree's story, including their leadership and accomplishments in manufacturing.

With a bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from Bucknell University and an MBA from Duquesne University, Ms. Herman began her career at MSA as an Assistant Chemist in 1984.  Since that time she has held various roles of increasing responsibility.  Most recently, Ms. Herman served as the Manager of the Global Operations Engineering Project Management team, where she oversaw continuous improvement and technology transfer projects.  She also led the relocation of MSA's corporate headquarters from O'Hara Township to Cranberry Township in 2010.  In addition to her academic degrees, Anne also completed the Women's Executive Leadership Program from Duquesne University.  She resides in Cranberry Township with her husband, Robert, and their two sons, Rob and Ryan.

About MSA
Established in 1914, MSA is the global leader in the development, manufacture and supply of safety products that protect people and facility infrastructures.  Many MSA products integrate a combination of electronics, mechanical systems and advanced materials to protect users against hazardous or life-threatening situations. The company's comprehensive line of products is used by workers around the world in a broad range of industries, including the fire service, the oil, gas and petrochemical industry, construction, mining and utilities, as well as the military.  Principal products include self-contained breathing apparatus, fixed gas and flame detection systems, handheld gas detection instruments, head protection products, fall protection devices and thermal imaging cameras. The company also provides a broad range of consumer and contractor safety products through a joint venture with MCR Safety.  These products are marketed and sold under the Safety Works^® brand.  MSA, based north of Pittsburgh in Cranberry Township, Pa., has annual sales of approximately $1.2 billion, manufacturing operations in the United States, Europe, Asia and Latin America, and 42 international locations.  Additional information is available on the company's Web site at www.MSAsafety.com.  Information on Safety Works products can be found at www.SafetyWorks.com. 

About the Manufacturing Institute
The Manufacturing Institute (the Institute) is the 501 (c) 3 affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers. As a non-partisan organization, the Institute is committed to delivering leading-edge information and services to the nation's manufacturers. The Institute is the authority on the attraction, qualification, and development of world-class manufacturing talent. Visit www.themanufacturinginstitute.org.

SOURCE MSA