“It is a great honor for me to participate in the leadership team of the SME. The Society of Manufacturing Engineers is taking the lead in developing an inspired, educated, and prosperous manufacturing community, and with the Georgia Institute of Technology being the number one rated university in the manufacturing field in the United States, it is a perfect match with our mission, passion and capabilities.”
SME has been dedicated to supporting and educating the manufacturing industry for the last 85 years. Created as a membership organization in 1932, the nonprofit association has grown to serve the manufacturing industry through workforce development, training, events, media and membership.
In his new role, Dr. Kurfess will be responsible for leading the Board of Directors in setting the agenda, priorities and long range objectives of the Society. He will also serve as one of the key spokesmen regarding the SME community and the importance of manufacturing, and he will work with various Board members, officers, staff and members of SME to ensure a thriving and successful manufacturing community in the U.S. and around the world.
Dr. Kurfess’ address to SME appeared this month in Manufacturing Engineering Magazine. His address, “Yesterday’s Lessons and Tomorrow’s Opportunities,” details Kurfess’ own history in manufacturing and with SME, and offers insights into his role as President and the future of manufacturing. “My hope for 2018 and beyond is that we continue to advance manufacturing, enabling innovators to make the world a better place, not only providing wonderful products for humanity but also excellent jobs for our workforce,” writes Kurfess. “SME is particularly well suited to help society achieve this goal, and it is my full intention, with the support of SME membership, volunteers and staff, that we do so in 2018 and that we are prepared to do so for many generations to come.”
Dr. Kurfess holds SB, SM and PhD degrees in mechanical engineering and an SM degree in electrical engineering and computer science, all from MIT.
From 2012-13, Kurfess served as the assistant director for advanced manufacturing at the Office of Science and Technology Policy in the Executive Office of the President of the United States of America. He has also served as a special consultant of the United Nations to the Government of Malaysia in the area of applied mechatronics and manufacturing, and presently serves on the board of the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences, and the board of the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining.
Throughout his career, Dr. Kurfess has received numerous awards, including the National Science Foundation Young Investigator Award, the NSF Presidential Faculty Fellowship Award, the AMT Charles F. Carter Jr. Advancing Manufacturing Award, the 2006 SME Philip R. Marsilius Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award and the 2010 SME Education Award. Dr. Kurfess was elected to the 2006 Class of SME Fellows, served as the 2007-08 NAMRI/SME president and was a member of the former Manufacturing Enterprise Council.