International Women in Engineering Day 2026: In Conversation With Lisa, Production Team Leader
Every June, International Women in Engineering Day shines a light on the women shaping our industry, and at Karas Plating, we felt that this year’s theme, #EngineeringIntelligence, felt like the perfect chance to sit down with one of our own.
Lisa joined Karas back in 2015 and has built a career that started on the shop floor and grew into a Production Team Leader role overseeing our automated silver plating line, one of our most in-demand finishing processes. We took some time to sit down and ask her about the journey, the challenges, and what “engineering intelligence” really means to someone who lives it every day.
When did you join Karas Plating?
February 2015, so just over eleven years now! I actually came from a catering background. My kids had grown up a bit, and I wanted to try something completely different, so I found this opportunity with Karas.
What was your job title back then?
Honestly? I was on the production - jigging and packing, learning the ropes. You learn so much standing on those lines. I started plating on Line 4, and when the team saw how quickly and consistently, I worked, I progressed onto the silver line, which is one of the most popular processes we run here. That’s really where things took off for me.
What was the biggest challenge you faced early in your career?
Coming into a male-dominated industry years ago, I thought it wouldn’t be for me, and I sometimes felt I had to prove myself twice over. However, with time, my work became spot-on, the finished product was high quality, and as my confidence grew, I was producing more than anyone expected. I never let it hold me back; instead used it as motivation, and here I am today!
What does a typical day look like for you now?
First thing, I review how the night shift went and put the plan in place for the workforce, both on lines I’m responsible for. Once the paperwork goes live, I’m matching job cards to the documentation, making sure every item is accounted for and ready. Then I’m checking the machines, everything is operating correctly, temperatures are right, conditions are stable. After that, it’s problem-solving wherever it’s needed. It varies a lot, but I’m quite good at it now!
So what does #EngineeringIntelligence mean to you?
To me, engineering intelligence is using the technology, programming, automation, and even AI, to improve how people work and the quality of the final product. But it goes beyond technical expertise. It’s the combination of knowledge and judgement. It’s the experience I gained on the manual line feeding into the smarter, automated way we work now. The two aren’t separate; the hands-on understanding is what makes the technology genuinely powerful.
How does it feel moving from manual lines to automated lines?
It’s far more efficient, you can adjust things digitally, and parts move automatically from tank to tank, so it’s less physically demanding too. The programming does the heavy lifting day to day. But here’s the thing: I couldn’t program as well as I do without my years on the manual line. You can be the best programmer in the world, but without understanding the chemistry and how a manual line actually behaves, you wouldn’t know how to troubleshoot, work out efficiencies, or diagnose an issue. You’d only see the output, not what the program is really doing underneath.
What does good engineering leadership look like to you?
For me, leadership is about training people to the same high standard and giving them genuine opportunities to grow, even beyond their current role. It’s about passing on your knowledge. And it’s about opportunity for everyone, regardless of who they are. You don’t look at someone’s gender; you look at their potential.
What would you say to a young woman who’s curious about engineering but unsure it’s for her?
If you’ve got even an interest, please give it a go. I never expected to love this work, but I’ve absolutely loved it for over ten years. We’ve got more women here now than ever before, and not just in one type of role; they’re right across the business. With the way the company is growing, there are going to be real opportunities, and I’d love to see more women take them.
At Karas Plating, we’re proud of the people who make precision finishing look effortless, and we’re committed to building a workforce where talent is what counts.
Happy International Women in Engineering Day 2026. 💙