SME Announces New Alliance for AUTOFACT
4 November 1997
SME Announces New Alliance for AUTOFACT; Combines Strengths with ASME and SAE to Fulfill Needs of Manufacturing Marketplace
DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 4 -- AUTOFACT, North America's leading
conference and exposition focused on information technologies for the
manufacturing enterprise, opens today at Cobo Convention Center in Detroit,
Mich. With the 1997 event, a new partnership begins between the Society of
Manufacturing Engineers (SME) and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE
International), who will also be sponsoring the 1998 show along with the
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME International). These three
world-class leaders and producers of educational products and services for the
manufacturing enterprise bring a combined constituency of over one million
engineers, executives and technical specialists worldwide.
"This combination, represents a significant portion of the product-
life-cycle, tremendously benefiting the manufacturing enterprise," said SME
President Alan T. Male, PhD, FSME, PE, noting that AUTOFACT, entering its
21st year, has led the way on the application of advanced computer-based tools
in the manufacturing environment. "We are combining the strengths of each
organization to bring the beat show possible to both attendees and
exhibitors."
"Joining SME to co-sponsor AUTOFACT '98 will broaden ASME's industrial
focus to include information technologies for the manufacturing enterprise.
At the same time, ASME's co-sponsoring divisions, Design and Manufacturing,
will offer knowledge bases in design automation, design for manufacturability,
stress analysis, robotics, machine tools and sensors and controllers," said
Keith B. Thayer, 1997-1998 ASME International president.
"This new alliance parallels SAE's involvement in and emphasis on
Integrated Product Development (IPD). Our support of SME in this endeavor is
supported by SAE's Manufacturing Strategic Advisory Group (MSAG) chaired by
SAE Past President Claude Verbal," said David C. Holloway, 1997 SAE president.
"Today, it takes unprecedented levels of cooperation between all disciplines
involved in vehicle development to produce a world-class automobile. SAE's
International Automotive Manufacturing (IAM) event helps automakers bring all
manufacturing functions together from the very beginning of concept
development."
In 1998, SME will co-sponsor IAM, the only event in North America that
embraces all technologies, products and services that impact automotive
manufacturing. It features a unique combination of technical sessions,
professional development seminars, factory tours, senior-level executive
panels and a far-ranging exhibition.
AUTOFACT - Bringing Together Thought Leaders & Demonstrations of New/Emerging
Technologies
Celebrating 20 years of excellence, AUTOFACT provides executives,
engineers and technical specialists a dynamic, interactive learning
environment to view, compare, evaluate, test-drive and make informed
purchasing decisions from a full-spectrum of information technologies
developed to reduce costs, increase quality and improve time-to-market in
manufacturing.
Technologies include: client/server technology; collaborative engineering;
CAD/CAM/CAE/CIM systems; computer hardware and peripherals; engineering
document management/product data management (EDM/PDM); engineering analysis;
enterprise resource planning (ERP); supply chain management; global systems
and communications (including Internet/Intranet); manufacturing execution
systems and manufacturing resources planning (MES/MRP II); networking hardware
and software; rapid prototyping, tooling and fabrication;
simulation/animation; virtual design and manufacturing; and workstations
(UNIX-based systems and PC-based, 32 bit operating systems).
AUTOFACT recognizes and addresses the needs of manufacturing companies,
enabling them to develop and launch new, competitive business strategies more
effectively than ever before. Of the 300 companies exhibiting at the 1997
show, more then 136 are announcing new products. The world-class AUTOFACT '97
Conference features over 300 industry leaders speaking at +70 sessions and
tutorials set up in eight tracks.
AUTOFACT is sponsored and managed by SME (rated by Tradeshow Week Data
Book, 1997, as one of the top 10 show management companies), in cooperation
with Computer and Automated Systems Association of SME (CASA/SME); Rapid
Prototyping Association of SME (RPA/SME); Plastics Molders and Manufacturers
Association of SME (PMMA/SME); and Association for Electronics Manufacturing
of SME (EM/SME). Co-sponsors include ASME International and SAE
International. Endorsers are Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG) and
SMAU, International Exhibition of Information and Communications Technology.
For further information on AUTOFACT '98 Conference and Exposition, please
contact SME Customer Service, One SME Drive, P.O. Box 930, Dearborn, Mich.,
USA, 48121; by phone at 800-733-4763 (USA only) or 313-271-1500, M-F, 8 a.m.-
6 p.m., ET; by fax at 313-271-2861; or browse the AUTOFACT home page --
http://www.autofact.org.
SME, headquartered in Dearborn, Mich., U.S.A., is an international
professional society dedicated to serving its members and the manufacturing
community through the advancement of professionalism, knowledge and learning.
Founded in 1932, SME has nearly 70,000 members in 70 countries. The Society
also sponsors some 275 chapters, districts, and regions, as well as 240
student chapters worldwide.
The 125,000-member ASME International has its global headquarters in
New York City, with staff members in nine other locations. Founded in 1880
as an educational and technical society, the Society remains committed to the
concerns and interests of mechanical engineers worldwide, with agreements of
cooperation with 51 countries. ASME conducts one of the world's largest
technical publishing operations, holds some 30 technical conferences and 200
professional development courses each year, and sets many industrial and
manufacturing standards.
SAE, founded in 1905, is an international, non-profit educational and
scientific professional technical society that serves more than 75,000 members
in 97 countries in the mobility industry -- land, sea, air and space. From
its international headquarters in Warrendale, Pa., SAE collects, organizes,
stores and distributes information on cars, trucks, aircraft, space vehicles,
off-highway vehicles, marine equipment and engines of all types and produces
products and services in all phases of the product life-cycle including
conferences, expositions, publications, standard development, and activities
centered around global mobility technologies. The vision of SAE is the
advancement of the mobility community to serve humanity.
SOURCE Society of Manufacturing Engineers