SOUTHFIELD, Mich., April 4, 2025 — SME, the nonprofit dedicated to accelerating the adoption of manufacturing technologies and building North America's talent and capabilities, today announced that seven manufacturing professionals from industry and academia are being recognized with 2025 International Honor Awards.

Chosen for their significant contributions to manufacturing technologies, processes, technical writing, education, research, management, and service to SME, awardees will be honored during SME’s International Awards Gala in Detroit on May 4.

For over six decades, SME’s International Honor Awards have identified professionals whose bodies of work have led to critical breakthroughs and advancements in manufacturing technologies, processes and education as well as honored members for their volunteerism.

“This exceptional group of professionals serves as an inspiration to the entire manufacturing community,” said Jeannine Kunz, SME executive director and CEO. “Recognizing their commitment to advancing the industry is essential as we work to drive manufacturing forward, and I am personally grateful for each awardee’s continued support of SME and our mission.”

2025 International Honor Award Recipients:

• Eli Whitney Productivity Award — Satyandra K. Gupta, Ph.D., FSME, Smith International Professor, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, Calif.
• Joseph A. Siegel Service Award — Mathew Hilgendorf, LSME, Chief Operating Officer, ACME Industries, Elk Grove Village, Ill.
• Donald C. Burnham Manufacturing Management Award — Julie A. Christodoulou, Ph.D., Independent Consultant/Principal, Materials and Manufacturing Innovation LLC, Alexandria, Va.
• SME Frederick W. Taylor Research Medal — Xiaochun Li, Ph.D., FSME, Raytheon Chair in Manufacturing Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Calif.
• SME Albert M. Sargent Progress Award — Susan Bear, Chief Technology Officer, Grede LLC, Southfield, Mich.
• SME Education Award — Bruce M. Kramer, PhD, FSME, Senior Advisor, National Science Foundation, CMMI Division, Alexandria, Va.
• SME Gold Medal — Robert X. Gao, Ph.D., FSME, Cady Staley Professor and Department Chair, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.

Learn more about the 2025 awardees here. SME is currently accepting nominations for the 2026 International Honor Awards. The submission deadline is Aug. 1. Award and nomination information is available at sme.org/awards. For further questions about SME's International Awards, email nominations@sme.org.

About SME

Established in 1932 as a nonprofit organization, SME represents the entire North American manufacturing industry, including manufacturers, academia, professionals, students, and the communities in which they operate. We believe manufacturing holds the key to economic growth and prosperity, and champion the industry's potential as a diverse, thriving, and valued ecosystem. SME accelerates new technology adoption and builds North America’s talent and capabilities to advance manufacturing and drive competitiveness, resiliency, and national security. SME designs new ways to understand and solve problems, and our solutions advance the next wave of growth in manufacturing. Learn more at SME.org.