The Eli Whitney Productivity Award is part of the International Honor Awards, and is awarded for distinguished accomplishments in improving capability within the broad concept of orderly production.

Nomination Eligibility & Requirements

• Nominations can be submitted for both U.S. and international citizens.
• Nominees must have made significant contributions to the field of manufacturing.

To submit an International Honor Award nomination:

• Download the nomination form (MS WORD)
• Verify that the nominee meets all of the outlined eligibility requirements.
• Include three (3) letters of recommendation, preferably on letterhead; one letter should be submitted by the nominator, which briefly highlights the accomplishments of the nominee. Note: Self-nominations and/or submissions will not be accepted.
• Submit, as thoroughly as possible, supporting information (publications, innovations, patents) on the nomination form.

Send completed nomination form(s) and recommendation letters no later than Aug. 1 of each year to: 

SME International Awards & Recognition Committee 
c/o Executive Offices 
SME 
1000 Town Center, Suite 1910, Southfield, MI 48075
Fax: 313.425.3406 | Email: nominations@sme.org

Recent Award Winner

Sthitie Bom

Sthitie Bom is Vice President of Global Factory IT at Seagate Technology, where she leads AI and autonomy strategy across the company’s global semiconductor fabrication operations. Holding a PhD in Cognitive Science from the University of Minnesota and nearly two decades at Seagate, she brings together scientific rigor, engineering depth, and executive leadership to transform how intelligent systems operate in high-volume manufacturing.

2026 International Honor Awards Recipients Press Release