ASME: Mechanical Engineering Standards, Codes & Membership

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) provides training and continued education for individuals in the mechanical engineering field. Membership in ASME is restricted to mechanical engineers and students of mechanical engineering.

The Facts

• ASME began as a strictly American enterprise, but is now an international association with more than120,000 members.

Significance

• ASME is responsible for regulating all mechanical engineering codes in the U.S., many of which have been adopted by other nations.

History

• ASME was established in 1880 by Alexander Lyman Holley, Henry Rossiter Worthington and John Edson Sweet. The goal was to set standards for mechanical engineers and to promote safety measures around equipment.

Benefits

• ASME holds frequent conferences allowing mechanical engineers from around the world to share information and work together to achieve technological advancements within their field.

Considerations

• Mechanical engineering students who wish to become a part of ASME can usually apply through their college or university. ASME maintains chapters at hundreds of colleges across the country.

Fun Fact

• ASME owns its own publishing company which it uses to publish engineering materials to be distributed to members.