Use the Four Pillars to improve the breadth and depth of the engineering and engineering technology graduates you hire! The Four Pillars is currently undergoing revision and validation.Comment on the Manufacturing Four Pillars Download updated Four Pillars History First published in 2011 Update process was initiated in 2021 350 manufacturing experts from industry, government, and the academy surveyed, with 75 responses (June 2021) Validation procedure involving focus groups to provide feedback on the preliminary survey data. (April-June 2022) SME subject matter experts to refine the topics in each knowledge block reviewed by SME. (July 2022) Final updated version planned for dissemination. (fall 2022) Frequently Asked Questions What is it? Visually presents breadth and scope of manufacturing engineering based on accreditation criteria and SME Certification Body of Knowledge. Who should use it? Industry professionals Manufacturing education program leaders and faculty. How can you use it? Help colleges and universities update manufacturing curricula. Encourage more manufacturing content in non-named manufacturing programs. Increase industry’s understanding of capabilities of manufacturing graduates. Describe manufacturing to attract students through better image. Communicate with media and the public about manufacturing programs. Who developed it? The SME Center for Education The Manufacturing Education & Research Community Originators/Leaders: Robert Mott, Ron Bennett, Raju Venkitaswany, Mark Stratton Who is revising it? The SME Manufacturing Education and Accreditation Committee with assistance from SME subject matter experts. What type of topics to expect in the revised Four Pillars? Topics referred to in the SME Body of Knowledge as “Digital Enterprise” focusing on the increasing impact that digital technologies have in manufacturing. Topics inside each of the original 12 blocks of knowledge are being surveyed, revised and validated. Publications Referencing Four Pillars: Irwin, J., Fidan, I., Littell, N., Marzano, S., Labyak, D.M., Wagner, S., Fatima, A. and Mazen, A., The Four Pillars of Manufacturing Knowledge: A Contemporary Perspective on Practical Implementation. Journal of Engineering Technology. 2025 Oct 29;42(2):38-51. https://doi.org/10.18260/jet.42.2.4 Irwin, J., Littell, N., Wang, J., and Fidan, I., M335·Manufacturing Division Panel: Implementing the Four Pillars - Mapping Mfg program curricula, 513B, Palais des congres de Montreal, Mon. June 23, 2025 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM, 2025 ASEE Annual Conference Irwin, J. L., & Marzano, S. G., & Fidan, I., & Littell, N. (2024, June), Advanced Four Pillars of Manufacturing, 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Portland, Oregon. https://doi.org/10.18260/1-2--46523 Littell, N. Irwin, J. L., & Marzano, S. G. (2024, October) Four Pillars of Manufacturing Knowledge Workshop – Dissemination and Awareness Discussion, 2024 ATMAE Annual Conference Labyak, D. and Wagner, S. Industry 4.0 and Holistic Safety Programs Industry Collaboration in Manufacturing Engineering. 2024 CIEC, Garden Grove, California. https://doi.org/10.18260/1-2-670-49047 Littell, N. Irwin, J. L., & Marzano, S. G. (2023, October) Four Pillars of Manufacturing Knowledge Workshop 2023 ATMAE Annual Conference Irwin, J., & Johnson, M., & Marzano, S. (2022, August), Four Pillars of Manufacturing Knowledge Revision and Validation Process, 2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Minneapolis, MN. https://doi.org/10.18260/1-2--41164 Sirinterlikci, A. Educating the Manufacturing Engineer of the Future. 2022 ASEE - North Central Section Conference, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. https://doi.org/10.18260/1-2--39241 Yip-Hoi, D. M., & Newcomer, J. L. (2015, June). Conforming a New Manufacturing Engineering Curriculum to the SME Four Pillars. 2015 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition (pp. 26-393). https://doi.org/10.18260/p.23732 Pung, C. P., & Jack, H. Industry-Based Senior Projects and the Four Pillars of Manufacturing Engineering. 2014 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Indianapolis, Indiana. https://doi.org/10.18260/1-2--20633 Mott, R. L., & Bennett, R. J., & Stratton, M. J., & Danielson, S. Integration of Manufacturing into Mechanical Engineering Education Curricula. 2014 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Indianapolis, Indiana. https://doi.org/10.18260/1-2--20680 Bennett, R. J., & Latif, N., & Sikoski, A., & Wendel, S., & Zahraee, M. A. Leadership for Manufacturing and Manufacturing-Related Programs. 2014 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Indianapolis, Indiana. https://doi.org/10.18260/1-2--20736 Nutter, P., Mott, R. L., Williams, C. R., & Stratton, M. J. Survey of Manufacturing Company Expectations Based on the SME Four Pillars of Manufacturing Knowledge. 2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition (pp. 23-1120). https://doi.org/10.18260/1-2--22505 Nutter, P., & Jack, H. An application of the SME four pillars of manufacturing knowledge. 2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition (pp. 23-149). https://doi.org/10.18260/1-2--19163 Jack, H. 2013 State of Manufacturing Education. 2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Atlanta, Georgia. https://doi.org/10.18260/1-2--19033 Mott, R. L., & Jack, H. The Four Pillars of Manufacturing Knowledge Model–Illustrations of Mapping Curricula into the Model. 2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition (pp. 23-1202). https://doi.org/10.18260/1-2--22587 Pung, C. P. The Four Pillars of Manufacturing Engineering 2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Atlanta, Georgia. https://doi.org/10.18260/1-2--19144 Mott, R, Bennett, R, Gartenlaub, M, Danielson, S, Stratton, M, Jack, H, Kraebber, H, & Waldrop, P. "Integration of Manufacturing into Mechanical Engineering Curricula." Proceedings of the 2013 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition. Volume 5: Education and Globalization. San Diego, California, USA. November 15–21, 2013. V005T05A028. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/IMECE2013-63930 Mott, R. L., Stratton, M. J., Jack, H., Gartenlaub, M., Bennett, R. J., Wendel, S., ... & Raju, V. (2012). The Four Pillars of Manufacturing Knowledge: Its Application to Engineering Technology Programs. Journal of Engineering Technology, 29(2). https://tinyurl.com/2012JET4Pillars SME (2012). A Strategy for Manufacturing Education. Dearborn, MI: Society of Manufacturing Engineers. Accessed from https://www.abet.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/workforce-imperative-manufacturing-education-strategy.pdf Mott, R. L., Bennett, R. J., Jack, H., Wendel, S., Stratton, M. J., Raju, V., ... & Waldrop, P. (2012, June). The Four Pillars of Manufacturing Engineering: What Engineering and Technology Graduates Should Know About Manufacturing. 2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition (pp. 25-1299). https://doi.org/10.18260/1-2--22056 Wells, D. L. An Example Mapping of the Four Pillars of Manufacturing Engineering onto an Existing Accredited Program. 2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, San Antonio, Texas. https://doi.org/10.18260/1-2--20918 Jack, H., Mott, R. L., Stratton, M. J., Waldrop, P., and Wosczyna-Birch, K. (2012, June), Curricula 2015: An Update for 2012. 2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, San Antonio, Texas. https://doi.org/10.18260/1-2--21132 Mott, R. L., & Jack, H. What is Curricula 2015? 2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Vancouver, BC. https://doi.org/10.18260/1-2--18829
