Women at Work: Grit, Growth & Innovation in Condition Monitoring
Across plant floors, control rooms, and boardrooms around the world, the condition monitoring industry is changing–and women are helping lead the charge. The condition monitoring industry is seeing a steady shift as more women step into technical, leadership, and customer-facing roles–brining with them a fresh perspective and a results-driven mindset. At ERBESSD INSTRUMENTS, women are not only enhancing the customer experience through expertise and hands-on support, but they’re also helping shape the future of the industry through innovation, training, and strategic insight. Their work is redefining what excellence looks like–from the production floor to the executive level.
At ERBESSD INSTRUMENTS, 40% of our team are women–on the executive side, within the engineering team, in production assembly, and in customer service–all of them playing a vital role in delivering world-class solutions in Vibration Analysis, Dynamic Balancing, and Remote Monitoring. These are not symbolic roles: they are critical to our success and that of our clients and distributors.
As Paola Narvaez, Director of Strategic Planning & Project Management, puts it:
“Since the company’s founding, the presence of women has played a key role in its growth. At ERBESSD INSTRUMENTS, we’re proud to have women contributing at every level of the company. Diverse perspectives–especially those from women in STEM–drive the kind of innovation our industry needs to solve complex global challenges.”
History and Emerging Trends
Over the last 15 years, the maintenance and reliability industry has undergone significant transformation–not only in tools and technology, but also in its workforce. While the field has historically been male-dominated, more women are entering and advancing in the profession.
In 2010, only 8.82% of all Reliability Engineers were women. For over a decade, that number has been on a steady incline and, as of 2021, nearly 13% of reliability engineers were women.
Of course, these statistics will vary based on job title. Still, in 2021, 12.3% of Senior Reliability Engineers were women, up from 8.62% just 11 years prior.
From Field to Strategy: Hillary Sander, PMT - Mountain View, LLC
When Hillary Sander returned to her family’s business, PMT – Mountain View, LLC, she started where few in her position would–on the plant floor, hands-on as a technician.
“I had no experience at all when I started,” Sander recalls “I was watching YouTube videos just to see how motors are put together.”
That willingness to dive in and learn fast paid off–not just for her development, but for customer relationships too.
“I showed up with curiosity and questions,” she said “And customers appreciated that I was learning with them and for them.”
Hillary quickly became a familiar face in the field–particularly memorable because she was often the only woman onsite.
“People remembered me,” she explained. “Because it’s not common to see women in the field, I became the face of PMT. That gave me a sense of responsibility. I wanted to show that I could represent our company well–not just as a woman–but as a professional.”
After several years of technical work, Hillary now applies her field experience to her corporate role in marketing and strategy. She still walks shop floors, but now it’s to help customers find solutions before issues even begin.
“Having that firsthand experience changed how I speak with customers,” she said. “It’s one thing to sell a monitoring solution. It’s another thing entirely to understand how it will live on the motor or the pump and what it really means when it fails.”
Steady Growth and Technical Precision: Michelle Charlebois, VITS Ltd.
Michelle Charlebois, a seasoned product and sales professional with over two decades of experience, serves as Sales Manager at VITS, ERBESSD’s Canadian distribution partner.
She brings more than technical know-ho to her role–she brings consistency, deep customer understanding, and a reputation for dependable follow-through.
“When I first started in the field, I felt I had to prove I belonged there.” Michelle said. “But I’ve always let my work speak for itself. I’m not trying to ‘be one of the guys.’ I’m just trying to be the best at what I do.”
Working with ERBESSD’s technology has added new layers to her offering. From PHANTOM wireless systems to DigivibeMX software, Michelle supports customers in various industries looking for robust, intuitive tools.
“ERBESSD has made it easy to present the technology with confidence. The tools speak for themselves, and when customers ask questions, I know the support is there to back me up.”
When asked what advice she gives young professionals entering the condition monitoring world, Michelle said:
“Don’t be afraid to ask questions–and never pretend to know something you don’t. Technicians respect honesty and effort more than anything else.”
Why Women in Condition Monitoring Matter
Condition monitoring is a precision-driven industry. It demands not only technical accuracy but also nuanced decision-making, problem-solving under pressure, and strong communication between teams and customers. Increasingly, women are excelling in these roles–not because of shift in policy, but because they bring high-value skills to the table that align perfectly with where the industry is headed.
IN 2024 SWE Magazine review of engineering and STEM roles reinforces this trend, noting that women in technical positions often excel in systems thinking, cross-functional collaboration, and user-centered approaches. These aren’t just “nice to have” traits–they are essential in condition monitoring environments, where teams must synthesize complex machine behavior, align with production demands, and respond quickly to signs of failure or inefficiency.
In the experience of Hillary Sander and Michelle Charlebois, that impact is clear. Their success has less to do with being outliers and more to do with being highly capable professionals who happen to bring a unique perspective.
“It’s not about proving you’re just as good.” Michelle said. “It’s about showing you’re committed, capable, and invested in helping customers succeed.”
And from Hillary’s perspective, being different wasn’t a disadvantage–it was a way to build trust and credibility.
“When you show up prepared, curious, and willing to do the work, it opens doors. People respect that.”
These experiences echo what ERBESSD sees everyday across our global network of distributors and internal teams. The women leading, assembling, and supporting our technologies do so not in spite of industry expectations–but in alignment with where the industry is naturally evolving.
As Paola Narvaez says:
“The value women bring to engineering and technology roles goes far beyond representation–it’s about insight, collaboration, and problem-solving. That’s why diversity isn’t just a goal at ERBESSD–it’s a core strength.”
Where We’re Going Next
Women like Hillary and Michelle aren’t just breaking new ground–they’re redefining what expertise looks like in condition monitoring. Their stories echo across an industry that’s becoming more technical, more customer-focused, and more open to different paths to excellence
Whether troubleshooting a data stream, demoing software, or managing key accounts, they represent what makes ERBESSD’s distribution network so effective: people who know their craft and know how to connect.
As Paola puts it:
“We build tools to monitor machines–but it’s the people behind those tools who make the real difference.”
Jamie Roberts, holds a degree in Psychology from SUNY Plattsburgh and is currently an Inside Sales Associate at ERBESSD INSTRUMENTS. With a passion for connecting people and solutions, Jamie works closely with distributors around the world to understand their unique challenges and provide the right tools for success. She thrives on building lasting relationships, ensuring that every partner receives the support and guidance they need. Jamie’s background in psychology gives her a unique perspective on communication and problem-solving, which she brings to her role every day.
ERBESSD INSTRUMENTS® is a global manufacturer of Vibration Analysis Equipment, Dynamic Balancing Machines, and Condition Monitoring solutions, with facilities in Mexico, United States, UK, Colombia, and India.
