About the Conference

Penn State

Penn State is one of the nation’s leading public research institutions, recognized for its commitment to academic excellence, groundbreaking research, and dedicated public service. With a network that spans multiple campuses across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a globally accessible online World Campus, Penn State serves more than 90,000 students, supported by 20,000 faculty and staff. Designated as an R1 institution by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, Penn State upholds the highest standards of research activity and innovation. The University’s impact extends well beyond the classroom, with extension offices in every Pennsylvania county, five innovation campuses, and six research and education centers supporting economic development and advancing knowledge across a wide range of disciplines. Penn State’s University Park campus, located on 5,617 acres in the foothills of the Nittany Lion Mountain in central Pennsylvania, serves as the academic and administrative hub of the institution. Through a unified mission of teaching, research, and service, Penn State remains deeply committed to improving the quality of life for individuals in Pennsylvania, across the nation, and around the world. 

College of Engineering 

The Penn State College of Engineering is a nationally recognized leader in engineering education, research, and innovation. With a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration and real-world impact, the college prepares students to address global challenges through cutting-edge research and experiential learning. Home to world-class faculty and state-of-the-art facilities, the college fosters innovation that drives economic growth and advances technology across industries, both in Pennsylvania and around the world. 

Mechanical Engineering  

The Department of Mechanical Engineering at Penn State is a dynamic community of more than 60 faculty, 400 graduate students, and 1,000 undergraduate students focused on solving real-world challenges in energy, health, and transportation. Among the most popular programs at the University, it ranks in the top 4 percent of U.S. undergraduate and top 10 percent of graduate mechanical engineering programs. In 2023, the graduate program was ranked seventeenth, which is in the top 10 percent of mechanical engineering programs in the United States.

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering 

The Harold and Inge Marcus Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering (IME) at Penn State is the world’s first and foremost industrial engineering program, founded in 1908. Its curriculum delivers a broad-based education in manufacturing, human factors, operations research, and supply chain/service systems engineering, grounded in mathematics, science, and hands‑on industrial experiences. Both undergraduate and graduate programs consistently rank among the nation’s top, preparing students to become leaders in engineering, research, and industry. 

North American Manufacturing Research Conference

The North American Manufacturing Research Institution of SME (NAMRI/SME) brings together researchers from leading companies, government laboratories, academic institutions, and industrial think tanks located around the world for the advancement of the scientific foundation of discrete-parts manufacturing. NAMRI/SME’s annual conference, the North American Manufacturing Research Conference (NAMRC), is a prominent international forum for the presentation and discussion of technical innovations and manufacturing research. 
 
NAMRC is recognized as North America's preeminent and longest-running international forum for research in advanced manufacturing. An annual event since 1973, the conference attracts global academicians, government and industry researchers, engineers, students, and leaders in manufacturing to interact with each other and advance the manufacturing field. NAMRC features peer-reviewed papers, keynotes, special opportunities for networking and collaboration, and recognition of research implementation, service, and achievements. 

SME 

SME has been supporting the manufacturing industry for over 85 years. Working closely with manufacturing professionals, companies, educators, schools, and communities, SME shares knowledge and resources that generate solutions to manufacturing industry challenges. 
 
SME's key focus areas include:

• The state of manufacturing — In order to bring manufacturing into the mainstream, SME feels it is critical to showcase career options and exciting opportunities available in manufacturing and inspire youth to get involved.
• Advanced manufacturing technology — Through members and industry experts, SME collaborates, aggregates, and disseminates technical information and expertise.
• The workforce — Manufacturers rely on a skilled, technical, and professional workforce to drive innovation, increase productivity, and remain globally competitive. SME is a leading resource for manufacturing knowledge and training. 

MSEC 

The Manufacturing Engineering Division (MED) of ASME sponsors the Manufacturing Science and Engineering Conference (MSEC) every June. MSEC is the foremost annual forum for the scholarly exchange of advanced manufacturing research knowledge. It is intended to disseminate the most recent developments in manufacturing research through technical presentations, poster sessions, and panel sessions. 
 
Since 2011, MSEC has been co-located with NAMRI/SME’s North American Manufacturing Research Conference (NAMRC). Together, these co-located conferences represent the largest advanced manufacturing research conference in North America. These conferences attract more than 500 attendees who can avail themselves of more than 250 technical presentations, multiple panel discussions, poster sessions, lab and industry tours, workshops, and an early career forum. MSEC, in conjunction with NAMRC, typically includes more than 80 students (from U.S. institutions) who are presenting their research and looking for career opportunities. 

MSEC is the place to learn about the latest manufacturing research, talk with the researchers pushing the frontiers, network with R&D experts, and meet the future R&D workforce. 

ASME 

ASME is a not-for-profit membership organization that enables collaboration, knowledge sharing, career enrichment, and skills development across all engineering disciplines, toward a goal of helping the global engineering community develop solutions to benefit lives and livelihoods. Founded in 1880 by a small group of leading industrialists, ASME has grown through the decades to include more than 140,000 members in 151 countries. 
 
For more than 100 years, ASME has successfully enhanced performance and safety worldwide through its renowned codes and standards, conformity assessment programs, training courses, and journals. 
 
ASME also produces nearly 40 international conferences. These industry-leading events feature advanced research and technical content spanning a range of industries impacted by mechanical engineering, including energy production, energy sources, advanced manufacturing, and engineering sciences.