The manufacturing industry is in the middle of a generational shift. As experienced professionals retire, Gen Z is stepping into critical roles—creating new expectations around technology, career mobility, and purpose-driven work.
At the same time, manufacturers face a pressing challenge: modernizing fast enough to attract and retain this next generation.
These themes were recently explored on the Gen Z in Manufacturing podcast, where Bailey Olmschenk, Director of Solutions Engineering at Prometheus Group, shared her perspective as a young leader building a career at the intersection of manufacturing and technology.
At Prometheus Group, Bailey works with organizations across multiple asset-intensive industries, applying the principles of modern technology, AI, and operational excellence to traditional manufacturing environments and more.
Her experience highlights what Gen Z professionals value and how organizations can create environments where early-career talent can thrive.
Gen Z approaches careers differently than prior generations. Rather than following a linear path, many prioritize flexibility, continuous learning, and long-term growth potential.
Bailey’s career path reflects this evolution. She began as a process engineer in a traditional manufacturing environment, gaining hands-on experience with plant operations. She later joined Prometheus Group as a Solutions Engineer, applying her operational background to solve real-world customer challenges, and ultimately progressed into her current role as Director of Solutions Engineering.
At Prometheus Group, roles are designed to evolve, which allows employees to build breadth, develop leadership skills, and move into new opportunities as their interests and capabilities grow.
For digital natives, the technology a company uses is more than a productivity tool—it’s a signal of how forward-thinking that organization truly is.
Manual processes, disconnected systems, and paper-based workflows can be discouraging for young engineers. These environments often suggest that innovation is slow and that employees will spend more time navigating inefficiencies than solving meaningful problems.
Organizations that invest in modern digital transformation technology send the opposite message. Mobile tools, integrated platforms, and real-time visibility demonstrate a commitment to efficiency, innovation, and employee enablement.
At Prometheus Group, technology is core to how we operate and what we build. Our focus on modern, AI-driven solutions helps teams spend less time managing inefficient systems—and more time driving results.
One of the biggest risks facing manufacturing and other asset-intensive industries today is the loss of institutional knowledge as experienced workers retire. This is where AI plays a critical role.
Rather than replacing expertise, AI helps capture, scale, and operationalize it—making decades of knowledge accessible to the next generation.
AI-driven solutions allow early-career professionals to:
This shortens the learning curve, empowers new hires sooner, and helps close the skills gap across organizations.
Bailey’s career journey to a director at age 27 illustrates how early-career talent can grow rapidly when given the right tools, mentorship, and opportunities.
At Prometheus Group, we prioritize:
For those interested, Prometheus Group offers an environment where technical skills are valued, innovation is encouraged, and career growth is intentional. Explore opportunities at Prometheus Group.
Asset-intensive industries are evolving, and the companies that lead the future will be those that invest equally in people, technology, and innovation.
You can hear more of Bailey’s perspective on the Gen Z in Manufacturing podcast.