Digitalization for All: How Women Are Mastering New Manufacturing Roles at Atommash
At the Volgodonsk-based Atommash plant, digital transformation is reshaping career paths regardless of gender. More than 1,000 women now operate CNC machines and manage robotic systems on the shop floor.
Twenty Digital Projects in Three Years
Atommash in Volgodonsk is currently implementing more than 20 digital initiatives spanning engineering design, fabrication, and quality control of equipment for nuclear power plants. Systems that incorporate artificial intelligence and robotics are replacing manual labor in areas with high physical strain, making it possible to expand women’s participation in core production operations.
A remote quality control system enables experts to inspect products from anywhere in the world. This approach supports remote employment models, accelerates approval cycles, and reduces equipment downtime, a critical factor in heavy industrial manufacturing.
Digital twins aggregate data across the entire product lifecycle, from initial design drawings to installation at a nuclear power plant. By consolidating traceable information at each stage, the system reduces errors and strengthens the long-term reliability of reactors designed to operate for decades.
Shifting Skill Priorities
In the 19th and 20th centuries, heavy industry often depended on physical strength and endurance. Today, the key attributes for operators are attention to detail, precision, and a deep understanding of technological processes. CNC machines require sustained concentration and accountability. In these competencies, women perform on par with their male colleagues.
Welding technologies have also evolved beyond traditional gender stereotypes. Automation reduces physical strain, while digital control systems provide real-time guidance on optimal welding parameters. Women welders now perform critical joints on reactor vessels and steam generators with the same level of precision as their male counterparts.
More Than 1,000 Women on the Shop Floor
Women now represent roughly a quarter of the company’s workforce, more than 1,000 employees. Their roles extend beyond accounting and human resources into core manufacturing operations. Female operators run CNC lathes, oversee automated welding processes, and analyze ultrasonic defect detection data.
Women play a particularly visible role in welding quality control. In these operations, a robot moves a sensor along a weld seam with micron-level accuracy while the operator monitors reflected signal graphs on a digital display. If an anomaly is detected, the system pauses automatically and the specialist determines whether to continue inspection or return the component for rework. This human-machine collaboration significantly increases diagnostic reliability.
A structured support system makes careers in the nuclear sector a realistic prospect for thousands of women in Volgodonsk. The company offers scholarships for female students in technical fields, mentorship from experienced employees, and flexible scheduling options for working mothers.
Women of the Don Forum
In February 2026, Atommash hosted the regional women’s forum “Zhenshchiny Dona – dusha regiona” (Women of the Don – Soul of the Region). Ninety representatives from business, science, culture, and civic organizations across Volgodonsk and the Rostov region participated.
Participants discussed the region’s socioeconomic development and the role of women in industrial production. Following the forum, attendees drafted and submitted a resolution to the regional government with recommendations aimed at supporting professional growth for women in high-tech sectors.
Modern manufacturing demands diverse competencies. Women contribute attention to detail, systematic planning approaches, and strong communication skills, capabilities that are essential for managing complex nuclear engineering projects.
Emerging Professions in the Nuclear Industry
Digital transformation is creating roles that did not exist a decade ago, including robotic inspection complex operator, digital twin engineer, and remote acceptance specialist.
For the nuclear sector, where shortages of qualified personnel remain a pressing challenge, expanding the talent pipeline is critical. Bringing more women into technical roles forms part of a broader digital transformation strategy within the economy.
Technological sovereignty depends not only on equipment, but also on people. When skilled professionals realize their potential in a high-tech industrial environment, the benefits extend to the enterprise, the broader manufacturing sector, and the national economy.
