• New show events were launched such as AeroDef and Mfg4 to meet the needs of the manufacturing industry.
• The SME Education Foundation (SME-EF) continues to enhance and expand its programs. In addition to investing in youth programs, the Foundation recently launched a new program—PRIME (Partnership Re- sponse In Manufacturing Education).
• The size of the SME Board of Directors was reduced to allow for more focused discussions and improved com- munications to help us govern the Society better.
• SME launched its new website, and its infrastructure was completely changed with the integration of a new association management system (AMS), including a members-only area of sme.org.
The Strategic Planning Committee is continuing to work with the Board of Directors, SME volunteers, and SME staff on SME Strategic Plan 2017. A review of this work will take place at the board meeting at the Annual Conference in June with the goal to have the new plan approved by the board at its fall meeting in November. With careful planning and due diligence, Plan 2017 will have considerable impact on the Society and its future, as the many strategies before it have. We know that manufacturing is not just a building or a process. It is a constantly changing mix of ideas, knowledge, know-how, skills, capital, resources, leadership, and technol- ogy that come together to make the things that are needed and wanted by society. Manufacturing is circling the globe at an ever faster pace, and its impact on people’s lives become more dynamic every day.
So when we ask ourselves, like Alice, “Where do we want to go?” our strategic plan is our Cheshire Cat that will help us with the answer. It will ensure we are on the right path to being relevant to manufacturing by being a valued resource for all those who are involved and impacted by manufacturing today and tomorrow. ME
SME Past President Receives Top Honor M
arcus B. Crotts, FSME, CMfgE, PE, was recently honored by SME-EF with its Lifetime Achievement Award. Crotts is chairman of Crotts & Saunders Engineering, Inc. Previously, he was a tool designer and manufacturing engineer at Western Electric
Company. Crotts received his bachelor’s in mechanical engi- neering from North Carolina State University and his master’s in mechanical engineering from the University of Illinois. He has been an SME member since 1956, and is one of the
original founders and former chair of SME’s Piedmont No. 82 chapter. In 1986, Crotts was recognized with the Joseph A. Siegel Service Award, and in 1987, he was elected an SME Fellow. Crotts is also a fellow and past vice president of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). For many years now, he has consistently demonstrated his support for the future of manufacturing through his tireless involve- ment with SME and his generous support as a member of the Foundation’s Myrtle and Earl Walker Founder’s Society. Crotts has found time to hold a variety of officer positions in the SME organization, including SME past president in 2002. He also served as a vital member of the Foundation’s board of direc- tors for more than 15 years. Crotts is very enthusiastic in his feelings about continued support for the future of manufactur- ing engineering. He believes it is especially crucial during a time that finds many companies outsourcing labor to other countries. “America was built on manufacturing,” Crotts said. “Other industries often just redistribute wealth but manufac- turing creates wealth. Our support to ensure the future of the US manufacturing workforce really must continue.” Congratu- lations, Marcus!
SME Supports Manufacturing Innovation 2012
S
ME members from across the United States traveled to Or- lando, FL, for Manufacturing Innovations 2012, an annual event hosted by the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Part- nership (MEP). In all, more than 800 attendees from industry and government came together to make a measurable impact on US manufacturing.
The MEP is housed within the National Institute for Stan- dards and Technology (NIST), a division of the US Depart- ment of Commerce. Its purpose is to work with small and mid-sized US manufacturers to help them create and retain jobs, increase profits, and productivity. As a public/private partnership, MEP delivers a high return on investment. For ev- ery dollar of federal investment, the MEP generates about $30 in new sales growth (or $3.6 billion in new sales annually), and every $1570 of federal investment creates or retains one manufacturing job in the US.
The event featured a number of keynotes, including TV star John Ratzenberger of Cheers fame and more recently his Travel Channel show, Made in America. He gave a powerful message about the need for a strong manufactur- ing industry to enable a strong US economy. In keeping with the Made in America theme, a myriad of products made in the USA were prominently displayed in the registration area.