ASME and Boeing sign agreement to share strengths

Last month at the Summer Annual Meeting, ASME and the Boeing Company formalized an agreement that will enable company engineers to access learning opportunities, training programs, technical resources and other services offered by ASME.

Activities will include technical information exchange at conferences, continuing education and career development, and public advocacy.

Surrounded by the Society's leadership, ASME and Boeing come to the table for the signing ceremony during SAM. At the table from left, Terri F. Morse, corporate director, Technical Affairs, Boeing; John Tracy, v.p. of engineering for Boeing Integrated Defense Systems; Reginald I. Vachon, ASME past president; and Virgil R. Carter, ASME executive director.

"ASME and the Boeing Company share a long history in the engineering community, and we believe this new partnership will strengthen the goodwill between the organizations and foster programs and activities that meet mutual needs," said Reginald I. Vachon, then-president of ASME.

Specifics of the new ASME-Boeing affiliation remain under discussion. The memorandum of understanding signed at SAM addresses only general principles and proposals.

ASME offers Boeing's managers an array of opportunities for learning and enrichment through publications, conferences, networking, local sections and continuing education. ASME short courses in engineering theory and applications provide strong opportunities for skills enhancement.

A goal of the ASME-Boeing program is for ASME to establish a cross-organizational community within Boeing to maintain communication and provide feedback to the Society's leadership.

Boeing is interested in keeping its technical workforce abreast of new ideas and developments that could influence corporate decisions and bring a competitive advantage in the aviation and aeronautics marketplace. Thus, the company is pushing to cultivate relationships with universities, engineering societies, research laboratories, government agencies, trade associations and other external groups.

"To stay at the forefront of technology, Boeing engineers have to continually pursue additional education," said Robert E. Spitzer, Boeing Technical Relations vice president. "ASME programs offer Boeing mechanical engineers a chance to refine and hone their technical skills."

 

back to news & features