President's Message Dennis S. Bray, PhD, FSME
SME President Member Since 1985
smeSpeaks Moving SME & Manufacturing Forward W
hen I first wrote to you as the incoming SME presi- dent in early January, a common theme throughout my editorial was “making it possible”—making it possible to continue to move manufacturing forward and to continue to grow SME. A year later, I can now say, we’ve made it possible. This year was about laying the foundation for success in the coming years. It was about addressing SME’s brand in the marketplace, setting its course for success and achieving synergy throughout the organization. These incremental changes were accomplished by moving from our longstanding moniker, “Society of Manufacturing En- gineers,” to SME. This decision was largely made because we want SME to be inclusive, not exclusive. It’s an organization that anyone involved in manufacturing can be a part of—not just engineers or manufacturing engineers. Adding to that was the overall change in the SME logo, which reflects SME’s fresh new outlook and overall strategic direction. As you look at SME from the outside, you may only see that there are many different parts of the organization. You may wonder how all of these parts fit together. What sometimes may not be obvious is what the organization as a whole has to offer. This is where synergy comes in. Let’s start with the SME Education Foundation. For more than 30 years, the Founda- tion has been preparing the future engineers and technolo- gists for advanced manufacturing careers through outreach programs to enrich students to study Science, Technology, En- gineering and Mathematics (STEM), supporting high schools with the PRIME school program and providing scholarships to outstanding students. In conjunction with SME-EF’s efforts, Tooling U-SME works with manufacturers to build training programs and support workforce learning initiatives. Build- ing a strong, knowledgeable workforce leads to strong, more successful manufacturers. These manufacturers then become
key technology providers and decision makers who attend SME events to learn about the latest and greatest in advanced manufacturing, including equipment, technical solutions, new industry markets and niches, and so on. The strong con- nections they forge when attending SME events lead to even greater resources found through Manufacturing Engineering Media and its vast media platforms, including print editions, digital, mobile apps and eNewsletters, all of which cover a variety of technologies and industries, including aerospace and defense, additive manufacturing, lean, alternative energy and much, much more. And then, at its core, and its most valuable asset, is the SME Member. The SME Member who believes in SME, its rich history, and the power in relationships and technical expertise.
As we move into 2014, the changes that were made are what I would consider SME’s foundation for the future. As someone who’s been involved in manufacturing for many years, I am keenly aware of all that is happening in the marketplace. I know that the world we live in is made better by manufacturing. It helps us prosper in challenging times. It’s what’s seen us through the many ups and downs of the economy. It’s what helps move technology forward. It’s also the cornerstone of SME and what it stands for. As our boilerplate and/vision/mission/purpose state, SME connects all those who are passionate about making things that improve our world. As a nonprofit organization, SME has served practitioners, companies, educators, government and communities across the manufacturing spectrum for more than 80 years. Through its strategic areas of events, media, mem- bership, training and development, and the SME Education Foundation, SME inspires, prepares and supports the advance- ment of manufacturing and attracting the future generation workforce. At SME, we are making the future. Together.
December 2013 |
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