Title: Unit Manager
Workplace: DuPont
Age: 33
As American technology companies compete for the increasing funding being made available for the semiconductor industry, DuPont’s Jillian Ditzler knows that investment must begin where the heart of manufacturing lies: on the production or laboratory floors.
As unit manager, Ditzler oversees more than two dozen employees at one of DuPont’s Newark locations, where she leads a slurry production unit focused on developing the science needed to produce high-quality products that support customers’ need to develop components used in the semiconductor fabrication process.
The 24/7 operation revolves around a close eye kept on safety, quality, delivery and cost, all of which fall within Ditzler’s planning purview. The 33-year-old mechanical engineer also focuses on employee development, and serves as a mentor to a few early career engineers.
When Ditzler assumed the position in the fall of 2022, after serving as an area manager in the same production process for DuPont since 2019, she took a calculated approach to tackling inefficiencies, which has led not only to improved performance for the unit, but also focused on employee experience in a way that’s allowed her staff to be more involved at every level.
Ditzler also serves as co-chair of events and partnerships for DuPont’s global Pride Employee Resource Group and on the DuPont Delaware Pride Steering Team. Outside of work, since 2018, she has volunteered for the Philadelphia/Delaware/Susquehanna Valley chapter of Make-A-Wish. An avid fan of outdoor sports, Ditzler can also be found enjoying time off the clock mountain biking, rock climbing and tackling home DIY projects.