ASME continues to work diligently to support the efforts of the global engineering community

Mr. Michael Kreisberg, Director,
Membership Development, ASME

Q. ASME has a rich history dating back more than 130 years. Can you share some highlights from its storied past, including how it came about and the role it plays in the engineering community today?
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers was organized in 1880 to provide a focal point for discussion among engineers regarding the key issues and concerns brought by the rising industrialization and mechanization of the period, particularly in the area of machine safety and reliability. ASME’s founders were prominent machine builders and technical innovators like Henry R. Worthington, who built the first duplex waterworks engine, and Alexander Lyman Holley, the Society’s first chairman, who built steelmaking plants, and came to be known as the father of American steel manufacturing.

When the founding members of ASME met for the first time in New York City, the main topic of discussion centered on the need for standardized tools and machine parts as well as uniform work practices in the dawning industrial age. In 1914, ASME issued Rules for the Construction of Stationary Boilers and for Allowable Working Pressure, which evolved into the legendary ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. BPVC is used in more than 100 countries worldwide, including India, and is the basis for the Society’s largest conformity assessment program, serving more than 6,800 manufacturers around the world. Today, as in the past, ASME continues to work diligently to support the efforts of the global engineering community to develop solutions to real world problems and create a better and safer world. ASME’s members are at the center of these efforts and play a critical role as worldwide ambassadors for the engineering profession. By joining together from all corners of the globe, ASME’s members have a positive and meaningful impact on our world each and every day.

Q. What role does ASME play in the professional life of today’s engineer, and why is it important?
ASME provides engineers with wide-ranging opportunities for career enrichment, volunteerism and lifelong learning. The Society helps engineers at the start of their careers with access to a wealth of free technical content, as well as the chance to receive mentoring from an experienced member.
ASME offers a comprehensive suite of continuing education programs including short courses, in-company training, seminars, and workshops. As the world becomes smaller and globalization becomes a way of life, the Society provides engineers with the means to network and exchange ideas with professionals who have similar interests through its ASME.org community platform, and in-person via conferences and technical division events.

Q. ASME has had members in India for many years. What is ASME doing in India today that engineers and technology professionals should know about?
ASME has responded to India’s growing marketplace for engineering services, particularly in the areas of electric power, gas turbines, petroleum facilities, and pipeline systems. In recent months, the Society has organized continuing education short courses on stainless steel welding and the application of the Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, and course programs for students on computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing. ASME-sponsored meetings and conferences in India have included the All-India Conclave on Innovation, Gas Turbine User Symposium, Gas Turbine India Conference, and a seminar on boilers. Additionally, an ASME Pipeline Chapter has been formed in India. ASME Standards and Certification maintains a strong presence in India, with programs and activities focused on engaging local industries in the use of the ASME Y14.5 standard, the B31 standards, and Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. It’s exciting that new International Working Groups have been formed in India, which allow engineers working in India to participate on committees that provide expert commentary on creating and maintaining sections of ASME codes and standards.

Q. Does ASME collaborate with companies & institutions to promote the benefits of membership?
All the time! ASME has long maintained strong relationships with many of India’s leading corporations and institutions, and we are currently in the process of expanding our outreach efforts in India even further. For example, ASME representatives are available to meet with corporate managers and their engineering teams to provide information about the many benefits of ASME membership. Employees benefit from ASME membership by receiving access to valuable technical content to help them on the job, and businesses benefit because ASME membership will enhance the knowledge and skills of their engineering staff. And to make membership as accessible as possible to those professionals who can benefit from it, ASME has expanded its membership options and is eager to work with corporations and institutions to put together a package for them which best meets their needs.

Q. How does ASME help engineering professionals succeed in their careers ?
As a professional member of ASME, engineers in India have numerous opportunities to enhance their careers and bring additional value to the companies they work for. Simply stated, affiliation with ASME allows engineers to become more informed (and therefore smarter), more connected and more productive in their daily jobs. Through volunteerism, ASME also enables members to play a role in influencing the direction of the organization as well as the future course of technology. Students view ASME as an important step toward professional status. Many students are active in student sections that have been established in colleges and universities in India and around the world, where they participate in design contests, conferences and various other activities. ASME membership gives students an opportunity to gain a global perspective and practice their teamwork and leadership skills, making them more valuable to potential employers when they graduate.

Learn more at
http://go.asme.org/India