The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) and Women in 3D Printing (Wi3DP) have formed a partnership to attract and build a diverse next gen workforce to advance the Additive Manufacturing (AM) industry.
This new partnership was announced recently at RAPID + TCT (an SME Event) in Detroit.
SME is a non-profit association of professionals, educators and students committed to promoting and supporting the manufacturing industry. SME helps manufacturers innovate, grow, and prosper by promoting manufacturing technology, developing a skilled workforce, and connecting the manufacturing industry.
Women in 3D Printing, a global non-profit organization, has a mission to close the gender gap in AM. Women in 3D Printing has grown from a simple blog to one of the largest AM communities worldwide, with over 80 chapters in 36 countries in a very short time.
The new partnership between Wi3DP and SME initially includes four initiatives:
- The TIPE 2023 Conference, focused on Technology, Industry, People and Economics, will now be co-produced and powered by SME and Wi3DP. This supports a shared goal of offering AM engagement and education year-round, including through digital platforms.
- SME’s 2023 RAPID + TCT. SME and Wi3DP will launch the “Wi3DP Showcase” at RAPID + TCT next year in Chicago. This important showcase will extend the value of TIPE with an in-person experience.
- NextGen Mentorship Pilot. Recognizing the importance of workforce development, with a shared commitment to the next generation, SME and Wi3DP will partner on a NextGen Mentorship pilot program, expanding on Wi3DP’s existing program.
- Diversity for Additive Manufacturing 2023 Annual Report. Wi3DP and SME will co-author this annual measure of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in the Additive Industry. The report will look at how organizations are expanding and developing their workforce, while providing resources to make DEI accessible, understandable, and actionable.
The two non-profit organizations share the same passion for promoting and advancing Additive Manufacturing and creating a more inclusive industry for everyone.
Hearing the announcement by Nora Toure of this partnership at RAPID + TCT was very inspiring, and I am proud to be an Ambassador for the Winnipeg Chapter of Women in 3D Printing. I started the chapter, after speaking with Nora, in 2018 and 4 years after Nora founded Wi3DP. At the start, Nora believed that this industry should be enriched by diverse backgrounds in its workforce. Women in 3D Printing focuses around the idea that we should embrace those diverse backgrounds because they are what makes this industry so rich and interesting.
Referring to the image at top, Nora said:
“I love this picture because it is a start in representing what our community is about: diversity of genders, skin colors, ages, beliefs, sexual orientations, backgrounds and expertise.”
SME has supported manufacturing for 90 years. I am looking forward to being part of the partnership with Wi3DP and see how both organizations will be enriched by diversity to advance the Additive Manufacturing Industry.
Via PRNewswire, Wi3DP and SME
