The Downtime Podcast: Career insights for women in the trades from an engineer

Episode 32 of The Downtime, a weekly manufacturing podcast from WTWH Media, is a throwback edition, revisiting co-hosts Sarah Wynn and Sheri Kasprzak’s conversation with Amber Fritz, engineering systems and configuration manager at Reliance Worldwide.

The trio spoke this past summer for Women in the Trades Day coverage. Fritz shares her advice for women entering engineering and the trades, including the importance of finding a mentor in the industry.

The episode also touches on broader trends and innovations that the co-hosts have covered this year as they kicked off their best of 2025 series with the most-viewed stories from Packaging OEM and Plant Engineering.

Packaging best of 2025: RFID and sustainable paper pallet wrap

This week, Wynn spotlighted Zebra Technologies’ radio frequency identification (RFID) tools and its partnership with software provider Xemelgo.

She also discussed how PaperWrap, a sustainable paper pallet wrap, was brought to the North American market in Spring 2025 through a collaboration between Ranpak, Mondi Group, and PaperWrap green by orange.

Garrett Gross uses a Zebra handheld RFID scanner to track inventory in Xemelgo’s software (left side of image). Zebra’s NS42 AI vision sensor captures images to detect packaging and part defects (middle of image). Packages pass through Zebra’s Aurora Scan Tunnel for barcode reading and inspection (right side of image). Source: Sarah Wynn

Ranpak debuted its PaperWrap, a recyclable paper pallet wrap, at ProMat in Chicago. It's a sustainable alternative for manufacturers looking to eliminate single-use plastics like traditional polyethylene stretch wrap. — Garrett Gross uses a Zebra handheld RFID scanner to track inventory in Xemelgo’s software (left side of image). Zebra’s NS42 AI vision sensor captures images to detect packaging and part defects (middle of image). Packages pass through Zebra’s Aurora Scan Tunnel for barcode reading and inspection (right side of image). Source: Sarah Wynn

Engineering across industries & the role of mentorship

With over 20 years of experience in manufacturing, Fritz shared that she’s “traveled the whole gamut” of the industry, working in aerospace, appliances, medical devices, and plumbing.

She encouraged women to explore different types of roles in the trades and stressed the importance of seeking guidance and building support networks.

“You don’t have to have a mentor who is a woman. There are a lot of people out there, a lot of men out there, that are very willing and capable of being mentors,” she said. “Sometimes you just have to ask.”

Advice for women entering manufacturing

Fritz, a board member of the Georgia Chapter of Women in Manufacturing (WiM), shared guidance for women beginning their careers in manufacturing, emphasizing the importance of confidence and perseverance.

“The worst thing that happens is, I didn’t do well at it,” she explained. “Then I’ve learned something, and no one’s going to knock you down a level. No one’s going to reprimand you for trying.”

Listen to the full episode to hear Fritz’s career advice and insights for women in the trades.

Amber Fritz, engineering systems and configuration manager at Reliance Worldwide, shares career insights and mentorship advice for women in manufacturing and the trades on The Downtime Podcast. With over 20 years of experience across aerospace, appliances, medical devices, and plumbing, Fritz encourages women to explore diverse manufacturing roles and build supportive professional networks. Source: Amber Fritz, Adobe Stock

Episode 32 | Show notes & time stamps

00:17 – The co-hosts start the show

00:55 – The dynamic duo talks about Ohio State’s massive victory over Michigan and the recent holiday

02:11 – The co-hosts preview this week’s episode and share that they’ll highlight top stories from Packaging OEM and Plant Engineering from 2025 on the December episodes of The Downtime podcast

03:13 – Kasprzak goes over a Plant Engineering story by Ron Widup from Shermco Industries on NFPA 70E requirements

04:37 – Kasprzak explains she’s a big fan of variable frequency drives (VFDs) and presents an article on VFDs with integrated PLCs for safe and reliable pumping systems, written by Shannon Chiles from WEG Electric Corp.

06:10 – Wynn showcases Packaging OEM’s coverage on Zebra Technologies scan tunnel and radio frequency identification (RFID) technology solutions with software partner Xemelgo

07:00 – Wynn talks about Packaging OEM’s story on PaperWrap, a recyclable pallet wrap that was brought to the United States in Spring 2025 through a collaboration with PaperWrap green by orange, Ranpak, and Mondi Group

08:16 – The hosts present this week’s interview with Amber Fritz, engineering systems and configuration manager at Reliance Worldwide

10:16 – Fritz explains support for women and allies in manufacturing

18:11 – Fritz describes her pathway to engineering

22:31 – Fritz offers advice to women entering manufacturing, and her favorite part about working in the trades

24:35 – Interview with Fritz concludes

25:14 – The co-hosts start the game time segment called “Naughty or Nice: Manufacturing edition.”

31:45 – The co-hosts wrap up the show

The Downtime · The Downtime | Episode 32: Running It Back

About The Downtime podcast and co-hosts

The Downtime is a weekly manufacturing podcast from WTWH Media that features insights from its automation and controls publications. It’s co-hosted by Wynn, who serves as the senior editor (digital) for Packaging OEM, and Kasprzak, who is the executive editor for Plant Engineering, Control Engineering, and Consulting-Specifying Engineer.