Face-to-face Continuous Improvement

The beginning of a new year provides a time for reflection and thoughts on how we can reinvigorate our programs with new energy. Upcoming programming, funding, and budgeting activities will be moving forward in the next few months. Many groups, sections, divisions, districts, and other areas within ASME are electing new officers with an eye toward future needs, and we've seen new members consider their roles and the potential for becoming more involved. Some members have already participated in Webinars, which were held-and continue to be held every other month-to help refine and share this vision of ASME, its strategic directions, and resources.

Terry Shoup

Still, new and continuing members alike are looking at the way ASME works so that new connections can be made. If you are one of them, now is the time to make plans to have someone from your area participate in the Leadership Training Conference (LTC) from March 2–4, in Houston, Texas. This face-to-face training opportunity attracts participants from all sectors of ASME: Centers, Institutes, Codes & Standards, as well as Knowledge and Communities. Working across the board, getting the big picture of ASME, and sharing ideas about how to improve the ASME experience are high on the agenda.

For me, ASME embodies common values and common desires to see our profession advance. Making the connections within your industry is a primary motivation for members, but crossing disciplinary lines provides a needed boost to stay competitive and well informed in a very competitive market workforce. What last year's LTC participants experienced was how we begin to tap into that cross-disciplinary network, and to build those skills and create some programming opportunities that accomplish this over the year. Plans for this year's LTC includes increasing both global representation and student involvement. We'll take a look at how our changes in structure and strategic objectives have influenced changes at all levels of the Society. Sharing best practices continues to be a high priority.

Some of the exciting, first-time activities coming up have involved cooperation in newly evolving relationships. Cross-sector teams, including Strategic Management, Codes & Standards, Institutes, and Knowledge and Communities, are planning new industry symposia, which received funds from the Strategic Priorities Grant Fund this year: A series of six brown-bag sustainability engineering virtual seminars with the American Society of Chemical Engineers, and a Gas Pipeline Symposium in India (working closely with Codes & Standards and the Institute for Petroleum Technology). You should hear more about these seminars in coming months.

In the wake of frequent natural disasters occurring in the Asia-Pacific region, District G (Asia-Pacific Rim) is working with groups such as Engineers Australia to launch a regional student competition to design emergency shelters. The 10 most promising designs from the contest will be supported to the prototype stage, prior to selection of the three winners.

In another area, the Saudi Arabian Section of ASME is working with the Bahrain Society of Engineers to organize the 2007 Middle East Mechanical Expo in Manama, Bahrain, Nov. 4–7, 2007. The Section is providing a technical program on both rotating and stationary mechanical equipment for engineers in the oil, gas, and petrochemical industries.

ASME is seeing regional-based programs being adapted in other areas. For instance, what was for nearly 20 years a regional West Coast U.S. competition, the human-powered vehicle challenge (HPVC) expanded a mere five years ago to bicoastal competition and two years ago began to attract teams from other countries. Now, for the first time, the July HPVC will include a Venezuelan challenge to test vehicles prior to the U.S.-based events. I look forward to further developments in this area.

Using ASME programs, technical expertise, resources, and contacts, we have been able to explore collaborative partnerships involving education and industry interests. In November, at the Congress, a positive trend in ASME sessions was a focus on engineering business management. Discussions included how to bring sustainable energy technologies to market, how to envision revolutionary (and often rapid) shifts in markets, and how these and other trends affect career pathways. All this reflects ASME's commitment to being responsive, agile, and strategically focused.

I look forward to 2007 with confidence in our ASME community. The world faces great challenges for survival and development, security and safety, and access to sustainable goods and services that will lighten our load, enrich our lives, and enhance our understanding. Engineers are key to meeting these challenges. My question to members at LTC and all other opportunities that avail themselves is: How can ASME help you find the solutions? How can we leverage the resources of ASME membership and make a difference in the world? These questions are asked and answered repeatedly over time because we are looking to constantly evolve and continually improve. How can we improve now? Join me in making ASME a source for solutions.

— Terry Shoup
ASME President 2006–2007

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