SOUTHFIELD, Mich., May 5, 2026 —Four manufacturing professionals from industry and academia are being recognized as the latest honorees with 2026 International Honor Awards from SME, the nonprofit dedicated to accelerating the adoption of manufacturing technologies and building North America's talent and capabilities. As part of SME’s commitment to maintaining a vibrant talent pipeline to strengthen U.S. manufacturing competitiveness, these award winners were chosen for their significant contributions to manufacturing technologies, processes, education, research, management, and service to SME.

The awardees were honored during SME’s International Awards Gala in Nashville 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.”

2026 International Honor Award Recipients

• Eli Whitney Productivity Award — Sthitie Bom, Vice President, Worldwide Manufacturing Systems, Seagate Technology, St. Paul, Minn.
• Joseph A. Siegel Service Award — Albert J. Wavering III, FSME, Deputy Director for Planning and Operations, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Md., SME Member Since 2006
• SME Frederick W. Taylor Research Medal — Mingwang Fu, PhD, FSME, Chair Professor, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China, SME Member since 2019 
• SME Albert M. Sargent Progress Award — Seog-Chan Oh, PhD, Senior Researcher, General Motors Research and Development, Warren, Mich., SME Member since 2022 

Chapter of the Year honorees named

SME is also recognizing one professional chapter and one student chapter with “Chapter of the Year” honors. 

The professional chapter of the year is SME’s North Texas Chapter 51, for their ManufactureTX 2025 Summit last year. The event welcomed 125 participants, more than doubling their goal, and expanded SME’s reach with nearly half of attendees being non-members. The chapter also drove membership growth and built a strong pipeline for future talent through student engagement.

Through collaboration with leading organizations and industry partners, the chapter created a dynamic environment featuring technical sessions, demonstrations, and discussions on the future of manufacturing.

The student chapter of the year is Cal State Fullerton’s Chapter 282, which hosted a Manufacturing Day 2025 expo last fall. The event welcomed more than 500 participants, far exceeding expectations, and significantly expanded SME’s visibility across campus and the regional manufacturing community.

By bringing together students, educators, and industry partners, the chapter created meaningful connections through hands-on exhibits, workshops, and demonstrations showcasing advanced manufacturing technologies.

SME congratulates and thanks both chapters, and all its membership chapters, for their commitment to the organization’s mission, vision and purpose.

SME is currently accepting nominations for the 2027 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.