SME Recognizes its 20 Most Influential Academics in Smart Manufacturing News provided by Share this article Share this article SOUTHFIELD, Mich., June 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SME, the professional association committed to advancing manufacturing and developing a skilled workforce, today identified 20 academics who are educating and shaping the next generation of engineers and smart manufacturing technologists across a diverse range of disciplines. All were selected with the help of industry peers and manufacturing experts by SME Media's Smart Manufacturing magazine. The June 2021 issue of Smart Manufacturing magazine highlights these exceptional researchers and educators in their own areas of manufacturing. These educators are teaching smart manufacturing methods and technologies that are being developed today for use tomorrow, both here, and if one honoree has his way, on other planets. Most want to utilize smart technologies on earth – some by helping legacy equipment owners assimilate into Industry 4.0, others by sharing their perspective and wealth of information that they gleaned working in industry before joining academia. One even created a company that early on in a child's development helps parents choose STEM-related products that stimulate their interest in math and science.