Sustainable Communities

We value human connection and caring for people in meaningful ways. Our intentional and purpose-driven strategy creates opportunities and expands human possibilities through investments in people and meaningful action.

Download Our 2024 Report

Community Impact

Spirit of service, commitment to community. We are cultivating human possibility and making our communities more productive and sustainable. Learn more.

Woman smiling at camera while painting a wall

ROK in Action

ROK in Action encourages employees worldwide to make an impact in ways that are most meaningful to them. The program includes:

Volunteer paid time off: 24 hours to use for volunteering during work hours
Donations for Doers: ROK matches tracked volunteer hours with financial support for approved nonprofits or NGOs
Matching gifts: ROK will match employee donations 1:1 up to $5,000 for approved nonprofits or NGOs of employee's choice

Rockwell employees volunteering in meena penfield

22,921

volunteer hours recorded

41% increase over FY23

1,538

organizations supported by employees and the company match

38% increase over FY23

17,229

hours of volunteer time off taken

31% increase over FY23

STEM Education

We invest in programs like FIRST® to inspire students, especially young women and underrepresented groups, to pursue STEM careers. Programs such as FIRST LEGO League and FIRST Robotics Competition prepare young people for the future through hands-on, team-based robotics challenges.

Our global impact by the numbers

countries

197

teams

3439

students

Celebrating STEM

FIRST® LEGO League (FLL) guides youths through early STEM learning and exploration. Rockwell’s FLL in Poland concluded with a grand finale, combining an FLL Challenge Tournament and an FLL Explore exhibition.

The event brought together Rockwell mentors and the Rockwell Automation University crew to celebrate creativity and innovation with over 200 children from 21 schools.

Inspiring Colombian students to pursue STEM careers

Through our partnership with the Smart Schools initiative in Medellín and Bogotá, Colombia, high school and university students are learning about technology career paths. This initiative, part of the Mayor’s Office plans, connects students with local employers to develop the country's digital industry workforce. To date, Rockwell has reached over 8,000 students in the Andean region.

Disaster Relief & Recovery

We are committed to supporting humanitarian relief efforts and making a positive impact across the globe.

Supporting the American Red Cross

Rockwell committed $100,000 to the American Red Cross to support disaster relief for Hurricane Helene, the second-deadliest mainland U.S. hurricane in the past 50 years. The donation supports emergency shelter, relief supplies, meals, and other support.

Pictured: employees in Brazil collected and delivered donations of clothes, food, water, shoes, and hygiene kits to help those affected by flooding.

Workforce of Tomorrow

Creating the future of industrial operations relies on developing workers capable of using advanced technologies for more efficient and sustainable practices. We are reshaping the workforce by connecting education pathways, training programs, and students to our industry through partnerships with government, academic institutions, and industry.

Closing the skills gap in smart metal casting manufacturing

Purdue University hosts one of seven Smart Manufacturing Innovation Centers in the U.S., in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy and CESMII, to accelerate smart manufacturing adoption and workforce development. With about 150 foundries in proximity to Purdue University in Indiana, there’s a growing need for advanced foundry technologies, improved processes, and associated skills.

What Rockwell is Doing

Rockwell, already a partner with Purdue, assisted in upscaling the existing foundry to a technologically advanced Smart Foundry, incorporating advanced technologies into the curriculum in collaboration with Robert Sinto Corporation and other sponsors. Foundries manufacture essential cast metal components vital to the domestic and global manufacturing supply chain, making them a critical educational point for engineers.

Impact

This collaboration enhances educational opportunities for Purdue's engineering technology students, aligning their learning with advanced foundry technologies and reinforcing connections to Indiana's workforce development pathways.

Connecting students, ecosystems, and skills

In 2024, Rockwell expanded its partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM), leading to several student-led innovations with practical business applications, particularly through the SAP University Competence Center (UCC) and the Connected Systems Institute (CSI).

What Rockwell is Doing

Rockwell collaborated with UWM students to integrate its Plex smart manufacturing platform into SAP, creating new capabilities for executing orders and capturing valuable production and operations data. As a founding partner of CSI, Rockwell supports the Connected Systems Engineering master’s program, industry-sponsored hack-a-thons, and the AI Co-Innovation Lab, providing students with advanced manufacturing experience and access to AI tools and expertise. UWM, one of only five SAP UCCs worldwide, connects with 200 universities globally, enabling students to participate in SAP classroom sessions and app development.

Impact

These initiatives empower the future manufacturing workforce, drive economic development, and advance AI in manufacturing.

“These partnerships enable CSI to develop hands-on AI use cases that educate students and industry stakeholders on the transformative impact of advanced manufacturing technologies on the future of manufacturing work.” - CSI Executive Director, Joe Hamann

Full and Productive Employment

Addressing the Skills Gap

Businesses struggling with the skills gap are finding a solution in military veterans transitioning to civilian careers in manufacturing. The Academy of Advanced Manufacturing (AAM), launched by Rockwell Automation and ManpowerGroup in 2017, focuses on redeploying veterans' skills into the industry.

Training and Success Rates

AAM's 12-week program, supported by Rockwell's expertise in advanced manufacturing, includes classroom and lab training, followed by a hiring process that averages two career offers per veteran. In 2024, the graduation rate increased to 91%, with a strong placement rate of 86%.

Growing Impact

AAM's impact is expanding, with 25% of employers hiring AAM graduates for the first time in 2024, and 45% hiring from multiple cohorts. The program helps translate military skills to high-demand roles, easing veterans' transition to civilian life.

2024 marked the first-ever AAM longitudinal study, which saw compensation growing for AAM graduates by 11%. More than 93% of graduates remain in the manufacturing industry, with 85% satisfied with the program and 83% satisfied with their role replacement.

The Academy of Advanced Manufacturing (AAM) helped Mahlon Robinson, a former military policeman, transition into a civilian career, securing a position and later a promotion at Graphic Packaging International. Mahlon leveraged his military skills and AAM training to excel in technical roles and leadership. He credits AAM and Rockwell for setting him up for a career of growth and community impact.

Aligning our Work

To make a greater impact with our charitable resources, we partner with organizations that align with our philanthropic priorities in four areas. Learn more.

STEM EDUCATION

To prepare the world’s innovators and makers of the future, we focus on supporting STEM education programs, particularly among young women and underrepresented groups.

EQUITY & INCLUSION

It’s a big world. And the more we include diverse perspectives in business decisions, the better we meet changing demands. That’s why we support organizations and opportunities that increase diversity and allow employees to develop an understanding of the social, economic, and educational challenges in our communities.

TALENT ENGAGEMENT

We recognize the importance of enhancing the vibrancy and sustainability of the communities where we have a major business presence. We proudly support programs that provide essential services as well as those that foster creativity and innovation.

DISASTER RELIEF & RECOVERY

Making a difference starts with helping others when they need us most. We respond to natural disasters affecting communities where our employees, customers, and business partners live and work.