Samsung Austin Semiconductor engineer recognized as a Women MAKE Awards emerging leader

AUSTIN--March 8, 2024--The Manufacturing Institute—the workforce development and education affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers—announced that Samsung Austin Semiconductor’s Megan Detwiler, manufacturing quality operations engineer, has been recognized as a 2024 Women MAKE Awards Emerging Leader. This annual national awards program honors 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. In her current role, Detwiler drives root-cause investigations, implements corrective and preventative actions and ensures containment of impacted material. In a previous role in the material technology department, Detwiler was responsible for several raw chemicals used in the manufacturing process. Her natural ability as a leader has earned her Samsung’s President’s Award for her supply-chain work, made strides toward accessibility and inclusion in the workplace and encouraged many young women to explore STEM options, all while facing the challenges of living with dysautonomia. Click here to watch Detwiler explain why semiconductor manufacturing is a unique industry to be in. As head of the Women in Technology Professional Development Committee, Detwiler developed relationships with the recruiting team to help foster the next generation of women engineers at Samsung, increasing women's representation at university career fairs and driving Samsung to have a larger presence at the Society of Women Engineers conference. Detwiler has also served as chair of the Women in Technology at Samsung (WITS) employee resource group, where membership has grown 45% and participation in the mentoring program has nearly doubled. “I feel powerful when my impact in the manufacturing industry goes beyond product quality,” says Detwiler. “I advocate for equality and accessibility, shaping a community where innovation and inclusion can thrive. My power is in forging a path where everyone’s potential is unlocked, transcending traditional boundaries.” The Women MAKE Awards are part of the MI’s Women MAKE America initiative, which is the nation’s marquee program to close the gender gap in manufacturing. Women account for about half of the U.S. labor force but represent less than one-third of the manufacturing workforce. Women MAKE America aims to build the 21st-century manufacturing workforce by empowering and inspiring women in the industry. “Megan has been a great leader and advocate for the Women in Technology at Samsung group,” Samsung Austin Semiconductor corporate vice president Jon Taylor said. “Through her outreach, she’s encouraging young women to consider a career in the semiconductor manufacturing industry.” Detwiler is in good company since her Samsung colleague, Katie Van Strander, was an honoree in 2023. The Women MAKE Awards gala honors 100 industry leaders and 30 rising stars who have been nominated by their companies as the “go-to” women, recognized for their innovation, dedication, contributions and good counsel. Honorees are further rewarded with access to a two-day leadership development conference in Washington, D.C., in the days leading up to the evening awards gala. Since its launch in 2011, the program has honored and recognized more than 1,400 Honorees and Emerging Leaders. On April 18, the MI will recognize the recipients of the Women MAKE Awards in Washington, D.C. The evening will highlight the story of each Honoree and Emerging Leader, including their leadership and accomplishments in manufacturing.

About Samsung Austin Semiconductor, LLC Samsung Austin Semiconductor is one of the most advanced semiconductor manufacturing facilities in the world and an integral part of Central Texas for more than 28 years. Through successful collaborations with global foundry customers and a continuous drive to develop the most cutting-edge technologies, Samsung Austin Semiconductor has become a major player in the foundry market with a technology portfolio that ranges from 65nm to 28nm using planar transistor technology to the more advanced 14nm 3D FinFet technology. Our process technology offerings impact everyday life including mobile, graphic, consumer, networking/high performance computing, Internet of Things, RF and automotive. With more than 5,000 employees, Samsung Austin Semiconductor is a premier and growing employer who provides a great place to work, is committed to environmental stewardship and being a good corporate citizenship. Learn more at semiconductor.samsung.com/us/sas. About the Manufacturing Institute The Manufacturing Institute builds, diversifies and strengthens the modern manufacturing workforce, with the goal of furthering individual opportunity, community prosperity and a more competitive manufacturing industry. The MI engages underrepresented communities and shifts perceptions about careers in modern manufacturing, leads skilled training and career development programs, provides thought leadership and research on the changing state of the workforce and builds partnerships to scale up its impact on manufacturing in the United States. As the 501(c)3 nonprofit workforce development and education affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers, the MI is a trusted adviser to manufacturers, equipping them with solutions for the industry’s toughest challenges. For more information, please visit www.themanufacturinginstitute.org.