SME MEMBERSHIP – Learn, Engage and Advance

Online Community

Tap into this interactive and online global SME community, which provides the platform for members to discuss technology, share ideas and learn together.

Manufacturing Publications

Receive all the latest insights with free subscriptions to SME Media magazines, including Manufacturing Engineering, Smart Manufacturing and annual industry reports. Exclusive newsletters include SME Daily Executive Briefing, Member Corner and SME Engage.

Peer-reviewed Journals

Enjoy free access to SME’s peer-reviewed “Journal of Manufacturing Systems,” “Journal of Manufacturing Processes” and “Manufacturing Letters,” along with additional features through the ScienceDirect digital library.

Personal Industry Research Assistance

Obtain quick, free answers to specialized manufacturing industry market research and data on industry trends, demographics, market drivers and more.

VIP Service at SME Events

Access special activities, including private meetups, reserved keynote seating, networking opportunities and merchandise.

Awards and Recognition

Receive recognition for innovations and achievements, volunteerism and contributions, both as a student and as an industry professional.

Continuing Education

Benefit from superb professional development through a year-round webinar series, leadership training and informal virtual roundtable discussions. SME Connect includes access to past webinars.

Savings on Technical Certifications

Receive up to a 50% discount on industry-recognized SME certifications and Tooling U-SME training. Affinity partners also provide discounted offers.

Career Services

Take advantage of SME’s online career center to receive a first view of manufacturing job listings, career coaching services and career development resources.

Celebrating “30 Under 30“

To celebrate the contributions of young manufacturing engineers, SME Membership co- sponsored SME Media’s “30 Under 30” publication with the SME Education Foundation. This special publication highlighted the achievements of 30 SME members, four of whom appeared at NAMRC and two who were featured speakers in SME Membership programs.

Industry Insights

To counter inaccurate perceptions of manufacturing careers and highlight their rewarding innovations, SME Membership hosted weekly events about STEM and career topics throughout October, including on Manufacturing Day. Events included traditional webinars and moderated, open-forum Shop Talk sessions.

Partnering with Women in Manufacturing

To further SME’s goal of advancements in manufacturing and development of a skilled workforce, SME extended its partnership with Women in Manufacturing to include two virtual career fairs with representatives from leading companies that offer focal DEIA initiatives. Women in Manufacturing is a national association dedicated to supporting, promoting and inspiring women in all manufacturing job functions.

Fostering research and enhancing knowledge through technical communities

SME Technical Communities help connect manufacturing professionals across academia or industry, career tenure, discipline or geographic area. These communities foster collaboration, networking, research and efficiency.

• The AM Technical Community concentrates on the technologies and processes that help conceive, develop, test, improve and manufacture new products to bring them to market faster and more cost-effectively.

• The Healthcare Additive Manufacturing Technical Advisory Team uses various communication methods to develop, deliver and promote educational products, services, training and standardizations, with the goal of further advancing the adoption of additive manufacturing in the healthcare field.

• The Plastics, Composites & Coatings Community is home to engineers and manufacturing professionals involved in the manufacturing processes of plastics, composites and coatings technology.

• The North American Manufacturing Research Institution of SME (NAMRI | SME) brings together researchers from leading companies, government laboratories, academic institutions and industrial think tanks located around the world to advance the scientific foundation of discrete-parts manufacturing.

• The Direct Digital Manufacturing Advisory Team is a group of technical experts who work closely with the AM Technical Community.

• The Manufacturing Education & Accreditation Committee serves through benchmarking, identification, definition and assistance in the implementation of manufacturing education activities and accreditation standards and guidelines.

• The Journals Committee oversees SME’s “Journal of Manufacturing Systems,” “Journal of Manufacturing Processes” and “Manufacturing Letters,” which are published by Elsevier and included in the ScienceDirect digital library.

Celebrating achievements that benefit modern manufacturing

Much of SME’s impact on North American manufacturing can be attributed to the outstanding contributions and professional achievements of the manufacturing industry leaders who have helped benefit modern manufacturing in North America. SME hosts biannual awards galas and other events to recognize and celebrate industry innovators, SME members, local SME chapters, companies and students for their limitless imagination, creativity and energy.

2022 Class of SME Fellows

Honors 20 or more years of dedication and service to manufacturing.

Prasad Akella, PhD, FSME, Drishti Technologies Inc., Mountain View, California

Daniel J. Braley, FSME, CAM-T, Boeing Global Services, St. Louis

Matthew A. Davies, PhD, FSME, Moore Nanotechnology, Charlotte, North Carolina

Jeffrey DeGrange, FSME, Impossible Objects Inc., Eden Prairie, Minnesota

Sunderesh S. Heragu, PhD, FSME, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma

Mingwang Fu, PhD, FSME, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong

William P. King, PhD, FSME, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois

Robert G. Landers, PhD, FSME, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana

2022 Faculty Advisors

Recognizes service to SME and its student chapters.

Bahram Asiabanpour, PhD, CMfgE, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas

Vishwas N. Bedekar, PhD, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Yalcin M. Ertekin, PhD, CMfgE, Drexel University, Philadelphia

Jerry Gintz, Arizona State University, Mesa, Arizona

Nguyen P. “Wayne” Hung, PhD, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas

Hitesh D. Vora, PhD, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma

SME in the 2000s

SME acquires the Reed Exhibitions’ Industrial Group of Trade Shows on January 19, 2007, forming its Canadian office and expanding its North American reach.