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Contact: Becky Schneider
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bschneider@automationfederation.org

The Automation Federation and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers Sign Memorandum of Membership

Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA (12 December 2011) – The Automation Federation announced that, in October, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) signed a Memorandum of Membership, becoming one of the newest members of the Automation Federation.

The Automation Federation is an association of member organizations that provides awareness, programs and services that continually advance all facets of the automation profession. The Automation Federation serves as the “Voice of Automation” by providing advocacy and industry-wide strategic analysis and coordination through its member organizations.

SME is the world's leading professional society that advances manufacturing knowledge and influences  more than half a million manufacturing practitioners annually.

The Automation Federation and SME will work together to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics education (STEM) and the Automation Competency Model to improve the general public’s awareness of automation and technology and to help small manufacturers around the country remain competitive.

“The Automation Federation puts a great deal of effort into communicating the importance of STEM to the next generation of automation professionals,” says Mike Marlowe, Automation Federation managing director. “We recognize that the collaboration with SME empowers the Automation Federation with a larger pool of resources to help us reach our audience and enhances our programs. 

Mark Tomlinson, SME executive director says,
“As the world’s leading professional society for manufacturing professionals, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers recognizes the importance of automation in improving the productivity and economic viability of our industry. SME and the Automation Federation are dedicated to working together to promote and advance the automation profession through education, new technology development, sharing our best practices and improving the quantity and quality of the automation workforce for the benefit of the manufacturing industry. Between the two organizations, we reach over half a million manufacturing practitioners, and by partnering, we leverage each other’s respective strengths. We look forward to working with the Automation Federation and its partner organizations as long as possible.” 

About SME

The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) is the world's leading professional society advancing manufacturing knowledge and influencing more than half a million manufacturing practitioners annually.

Through its local chapters, technical communities, publications, expositions and professional development resources, SME promotes an increased awareness of manufacturing engineering and keeps manufacturing professionals up to date on leading trends and technologies. Headquartered in Michigan, the Society has members in more than 70 countries and represents manufacturing practitioners across all industries.

About the Automation Federation

The Automation Federation is a global umbrella organization under which member associations and societies engaged in manufacturing and process automation activities can work more effectively to fulfill their missions, advance the science and engineering of automation technologies and applications and develop the workforce needed to capitalize on the benefits of automation. The Automation Federation is working to become the “Voice of Automation.” For more information about the Automation Federation, visit www.automationfederation.org.