Dearborn, MI –While the federal stimulus package was working its way through Congress, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers’ (SME) Board of Directors met for their first quarter meeting at the Mori Seiki University facility in Rolling Meadows, IL, to discuss the state of the economy and how SME can best support its members and the manufacturing industry.
“Our consensus is that manufacturers are facing an extended period of time before things get better and our members are being affected by cost cutting and retrenchments,” says Richard W. Shoemaker, FSME, 2009 president of the Society and the president/CEO of Concrete Technologies Worldwide.
“SME has its own economic reality but the Board is standing behind its mission and will find ways to support the manufacturing community.”
So SME's Board, which consists of industry leaders and premier educators, approved a specially discounted membership rate for those displaced workers in particular need of SME’s products, services and networking.
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Unemployed manufacturing professionals can apply for membership with full benefits by contacting SME for a special $30 rate for a six month membership. If still unemployed after that time a subsequent request may be made.
“Providing access to our products, services and knowledge is one of the ways SME can help get manufacturing practitioners back into the workplace,” says Shoemaker.
SME Board members want to encourage manufacturing professionals to take advantage of all the Society has to offer.
“Whether you’re looking for an opportunity to meet with your peers, to discover manufacturing techniques that can save you money, upgrade your skills or even to find a new job, SME has tools to help you through this difficult time,” says Shoemaker. SME members can connect to other professionals via their local chapters, technical communities, Lean Registry, at conferences and events.
The SME Board was encouraged by Congressional debate on training and workforce development.
“As the premier source for manufacturing knowledge and education, SME and the SME Education Foundation are pleased to see attention focused on education and worker training,” says Shoemaker.
“We are hopeful for a speedy recovery but also prepared to aide and add value to our membership through this crisis.”