Faurecia announced today that senior launch and engineering manager Stephanie Hayes has received the 2017 STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering and Production) Ahead Award from the Manufacturing Institute in recognition of her excellence and leadership in the manufacturing industry.
Hayes, who works at Faurecia Interiors Systems in Saline, Michigan, was awarded with this honor during a special luncheon in Washington, D.C., for her unique approach to leading, teaching and mentoring her team of nine engineers.
“Stephanie is the type of person we all want to work for,” said Alex Acket, deputy plant manager at Faurecia Interior Systems’ Saline, Michigan, production facility. “Not only does she provide valuable guidance over the course of a project, but she retains the necessary fortitude to lead her team to the right answer while ensuring they learn something valuable along the way.”
Among the qualifications that earned Hayes the award, she was responsible for successfully leading a team of engineers that launched 14 different products for one customer while balancing millions of dollars in budget. As a result of her contributions, Faurecia was able to meet all pre-production delivery windows on time.
Hayes also is known within the company for her ability to guide and develop her team, many of which are senior to her in age and tenure. She brings logical reasoning and a steadfastness not often seen by personnel in her position. Her patience has been on display many times over the course of her career, and with each new engineer she encounters, they emerge from the project with a better sense of how the work should be done, as well as a keen understanding of their strengths.
“At Faurecia, we embrace a culture of performance that creates long-term value for all stakeholders, including our employees,” said Mark Stidham, Faurecia North America president. “Stephanie’s commitment to leadership and encouraging her team to become the best versions of themselves stands as a testament to the type of person she is, and the type of leader we believe will help guide Faurecia into the future.”
The STEP Ahead Award is part of the larger STEP Ahead initiative, launched by The Manufacturing Institute in 2012 to examine and promote the role of women in manufacturing through recognition, research and leadership for attracting, advancing and retaining strong female talent. Hayes is among 100 women and 30 Emerging Leaders recognized for this award.
