The position of women in South Australia's process manufacturing industry was examined, and the implications of the study findings for the vocational education and training (VET) sector were discussed. Of the 393 companies to which surveys were sent, 136 (35.8%) returned valid responses. Of the 8,000 people employed in the industry, only 26.1% were women. Women tended to be clustered in low-skilled production jobs, and their representation in supervisory positions was limited. Women were more likely to be employed on part-time and casual bases and to have very limited career paths. The evidence suggested that the masculine environment that women encounter in both the training and work environments is a barrier to their advancement in the process manufacturing industry. It was recommended that real career paths for women, covering the range of occupations in the process manufacturing industry, be encouraged. Working with firms in the industry to promote and educate them in the benefits to be gained by drawing on the diverse range of skills and knowledge in all their employees, including women, was suggested as a way to advance access and equity for women in the manufacturing work force and to encourage more women to pursue apprenticeships and traineeships. (Contains 40 references.) (MN)