Founded in 1932 with 33 members, the Society was originally named the Society of Tool Engineers. A year later, it was renamed the American Society of Tool Engineers. It finally became the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) in 1969. Formed amid the Great Depression by a group of tool engineers and master mechanics, the organization looked to collaborate on how to build what would give the Motor City its name — the automobile.
Today, through its many programs, events, magazines, publications and online training division, Tooling U, SME connects manufacturing practitioners to each other, to the latest technologies and to the most up-to-date manufacturing processes. SME has members around the world and is supported by a network of chapters and technical communities. A 501(c)3 organization, SME is a leader in manufacturing workforce development issues, working with industry, academic and government partners to support the current and future skilled workforce.