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SME Awards & Recognition

Reap the rewards for your innovative ideas, career achievements and work on the behalf of others. You’ve given manufacturing its own brand of cool through your limitless imagination, creativity and energy. SME has a number of awards and recognitions to honor your efforts and contributions throughout your education and career. How will you be recognized?

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Awards & Recognition Opportunities

Annual Chapter Recognition

It takes a great deal of effort to make an SME chapter successful. What is the definition of chapter success? While this means different things to different people, we have to look at what SME states about its purpose, which is to advance manufacturing and attract future generations.

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Award of Merit

Since 1958, this award has been bestowed on outstanding SME members who, in the judgment of the International Awards & Recognition Committee, have made valued, balanced contributions to SME's professional activities and growth. Nominations Due: Aug. 1

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College of Fellows

Elected members, who have made outstanding contributions to the social, technological and educational aspects of the profession, can receive this recognition. This is a distinctive and prestigious honor that can only be earned through years (20 or more) of dedication and service. Nominations Due: Dec. 1

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David Dornfeld Manufacturing Vision Award

This award recognizes outstanding vision and leadership within the manufacturing community.

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Dick Aubin Distinguished Paper Award

The paper selected for the Dick Aubin Distinguished Paper Award, which is awarded by SME's Additive Manufacturing Community and sponsored by the Rochester Institute of Technology, will describe an innovative application of additive manufacturing processes and techniques.

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Digital Manufacturing Challenge

This annual competition invites student designers to use their imagination to arrive at an innovative design, which exploits the geometric capabilities of direct digital manufacturing (DDM) to the fullest. Entries are welcome from college/university students and high school students; both categories are judged separately. Winners are recognized at SME's annual RAPID + TCT event.

Distinguished Faculty Advisor Award

This award is offered to student chapter faculty advisors in recognition of their service to SME and their student chapter(s) in advancing manufacturing knowledge, education and SME's vision/mission/purpose.

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Donald C. Burnham Manufacturing Management Award

The Donald C. Burnham Manufacturing Management Award recognizes exceptional success in the integration of the infrastructure and processes of manufacturing through innovative use of human, technical and financial resources. Nominations Due: Aug. 1

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Eli Whitney Productivity Award

The Eli Whitney Productivity Award is awarded for distinguished accomplishments in improving capability within the broad concept of orderly production. Nominations Due: Aug. 1

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Excellence in Composites Manufacturing Awards

These annual awards recognize companies that have demonstrated dedication and ongoing contribution to further advance the design and development of technology used in the manufacturing of advanced composites.

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Industry Achievement Award

The Industry Achievement Award was developed to recognize an individual, team or company for outstanding accomplishments that have had significant impact within the additive manufacturing industry or in any industry through the application of additive manufacturing technologies.

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Joseph A. Siegel Service Award

The Joseph A. Siegel Service Award is awarded to an SME member for significant and unique contributions that benefit SME. This award is the only International Honor Award that must only be conferred upon SME members. Nominations Due: Aug. 1

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Jud Hall Composites Manufacturing Award

Presented annually to an individual who has contributed to composites manufacturing or tooling technology through leadership, technical developments, patents or educational activities.

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M. Eugene Merchant Manufacturing Medal of ASME/SME

Awarded to an individual who has had significant influence and responsibility for improving the productivity and efficiency (either by research or by implementation of research) of the manufacturing operation(s). Nominations Due: Feb. 1

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NAMRC Student Research Presentation Award

As part of the annual North American Manufacturing Research Conference (NAMRC), a Student Research Presentation Award is presented in recognition of students' contributions to the conference.

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NAMRI | SME Founders Lecture

These awards honor individuals who served on the NAMRC Scientific Committee and the members who founded NAMRI | SME as well as other distinguished contributors to manufacturing who have been actively involved with NAMRC.

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NAMRI | SME Outstanding Lifetime Service Award

This award honors distinguished members for their long-term dedication and contributions to NAMRI | SME.

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NAMRI | SME Outstanding Paper Award

Each year this award recognizes both the engineering value and industrial relevance of a published NAMRC paper.

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Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award

Recognizes innovators, age 35 and younger, in both academia and industry for exceptional accomplishments, such as technical publications, patents or technical-professional leadership. Nominations Due: Aug. 1

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RAPID + TCT Exhibitor Innovation Award

Presented to a RAPID exhibitor that introduces a product or service with significant technology innovation for the industry, which improves business operations and manufacturing.

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RAPID + TCT People’s Choice Award

The People’s Choice Award is determined by popular vote of RAPID + TCT attendees during show days (exhibitors excluded). This award is intended to recognize the winning exhibit for being interactive, technically and aesthetically impressive, and visually appealing and engaging.

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SME Albert M. Sargent Progress Award

The SME Albert M. Sargent Progress Award recognizes exceptional success in the integration of the infrastructure and processes of manufacturing through innovative use of human, technical and financial resources. Nominations Due: Aug. 1

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SME Education Award

The SME Education Award honors the educator most respected for the development of manufacturing-related curricula, fostering sound training methods or inspiring students to enter the profession of manufacturing. Nominations Due: Aug. 1

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SME Frederick W. Taylor Research Medal

The SME Frederick W. Taylor Research Medal honors significant published research leading to a better understanding of materials, facilities, principles, operations and their application to improve manufacturing processes. Nominations Due: Aug. 1

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SME Gold Medal

The SME Gold Medal recognizes outstanding service to the manufacturing engineering profession in technical communications through published literature, technical writings or lectures. Nominations Due: Aug. 1

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SME Honorary Members

Honorary Membership may be conferred upon an individual of recognized ability and stature who has, by voluntary action, contributed their substantial skills and talent to accomplish the goals of SME.

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SME Journal Awards

New in 2018, the awards recognize outstanding associate editors and high performing reviewers in each of our three Journals. Their critical review and oversight is crucial in further promoting the interdisciplinary formative research that contributes to the progress in manufacturing techniques, models, processes and systems.

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SME President's Award

The SME President’s Award is given to a Chapter or Technical Community member who has gone above and beyond in service to their fellow members.

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S.M. Wu Research Implementation Award

This award recognizes individuals for outstanding original research, which, when implemented, has had a significant commercial and/or societal impact.

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