Engineers use management skills in all aspects of their work from administrating multi-million dollar projects or organizations to managing their own time on a particular task. Management skills are essential to their work.

ASME's Management Division (www.asme.org/divisions/management) is concerned with the management of engineering processes at all levels, both national and international. This encompasses a broad spectrum of topics including project and program management, technological innovation, motivation, communication, organization and planning, technology forecasting and assessment, product and market analysis and planning, engineering sales, technology transfer, finance, economic development, management information systems, small business, management development and education, performance measurement, quality and productivity, employment of engineers, and personal growth and management.

Division members represent a broad cross section of ASME members from undergraduate students to retirees. Members of all ages, experience levels, and positions are encouraged to contribute to the work of the division.

The mission of the division is to promote the art, science and practice of management among members of the Society in the fields of planning, organizing and directing and controlling resources, both human and material, to improve the quality of products and services provided by organizations and to achieve objectives in the most effective and efficient manner.

We promote the division's mission through:

 - Providing training
 - Preparation, presentation, publication of papers, reports, and manuals
 - Recognizing individual contributions by granting awards
 - Participation in committee activities

COMMITTEES

Committees provide a valuable forum to network, exchange ideas, and develop methods to reach to other members. The division committees are described as follows:

Young Managers Committee

The Young Managers Committee (YMC) currently has two offerings. The YMC supports a Young Managers Forum discussion group (www.asme.org/bboard) in which management topics relevant to students and young engineers are addressed. The discussions are intended to inform as well as to spur further interests in management. Our plan is to post new topics monthly. The forum is also an excellent way to seek input from a diverse audience on real life management issues and questions.

YMC's second method to promote and respond to student and young engineer interests in management is through its support of ASME's e-mentoring program (http://beta.asme.org/ementoring). Students and young engineers who seek guidance on how to become an engineering manager may sign up for a YMC mentor at the e-mentoring website and select management as the area of e-mentoring interest.

In the future, YMC will provide more content and services, such as conference workshops, to further address and spur student and young engineer interest in management and to develop and grow the management capabilities and knowledge of its members.

YMC has a telephone conference the third Thursday of every month at 5 pm EST. Any inquiries or interest regarding this committee may be forwarded to Yohei Yamamuro at yohei.yamamuro@hp.com.

Project Management Technical Committee

Most engineers are involved in project management even if it is just managing their own work. Many are interested in improving skills, learning from others in the field and networking with colleagues. This subcommittee will offer many exciting opportunities for project managers and prospective project managers in the near future. Possibilities include certification classes, forums/speakers at future conferences (including IMECE), on-line forums and joint efforts with other ASME and non-ASME groups.

If you have any other ideas/suggestions or are interested in further information on these programs, please contact Steven Lustig at stevenl@lsil.com.

International Committee

In addition to these technical committees, the division also participates in the Engineering & Technology Management Group's International Committee (in partnership with Region XIII, Technology and Society Division and Safety Engineering & Risk Analysis Division) in order to coordinate activities that promote a better understanding of international engineering, technology and business management issues. If you would like more information, contact Hiroshi Honda at hondah9876@aol.com.

AWARDS

Another method the division has to satisfy our mission is to recognize individuals for outstanding achievement and contributions in the field of management. The Division hosts the Towne Lecture and awards the Gantt Medal.

Henry Robinson Towne Lecture

The Henry Robinson Towne Lecture was established in 1925 in honor of Henry Robinson Towne, President of the Society in 1889. The Towne Lecture, typically given at the ASME Congress in November, provides an opportunity for outstanding leaders in the field of management, economics or business to share their experience with members of the Society.

These lecturers have included notable business leaders, entrepreneurs and professional managers, consultants, university deans, public servants. Some very distinguished engineers/managers have been Towne Lecturers in the past. This prestigious group includes such management and business luminaries as Charles E. Wilson, James M. Gavin, Peter Drucker, Robert C. Seamans, Jr., and an individual destined to be the president of the United States - Herbert Hoover. Lecturers have come from as far away as Australia, England and Switzerland. The topics that the lecturers have chosen to discuss have typically mirrored their times while looking ahead to the future.

Stephen C. Lewis, Director of Strategic Planning at the Ford Motor Company, delivered the latest Towne Lecture at the 2002 ASME Congress in New Orleans. Mr. Lewis' topic was "How to Instill Diverse Consumer Focus Into Future Engineers' Educational Process".

Henry Laurence Gantt Medal

The Gantt Medal commemorates the achievement of Henry Laurence Gantt, who was a mechanical engineer, management consultant and industry advisor. Henry Laurence Gantt developed Gantt charts, which are still a common project management tool today.

This award honors those who have demonstrated that they meet a number of criteria, including contribution to society in general and management in particular; demonstrated civic responsibility; have the esteem of their contemporaries in the community; attained distinguished achievement in management; inspire others; and understand the value of engineering to society.

Some recent winners include: Robert D. Kennedy, Retired Chair and CEO, Union - Carbide Corporation; Luis Manuel Carrillo Jr., Founder and President of Carrillo Enterprises; Paul Soros, Former President, Soros Associates; Roy M. Huffington, Chair and CEO of Roy M. Huffington, Inc.; and Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr., Electronics Corp./The Dreyfoos Group.

COOPERATION WITH OTHER SOCIETIES

ASME, through the Management Division, is a cooperating society with the American Society for Engineering Management (ASEM). We are also seeking ways to work with similar organizations in other technical societies (e.g., IEEE, ASCE, PMI, etc.) to exchange ideas and pool resources.

As a cooperating society, ASME members have access to the Engineering Management Journal (EMJ). EMJ is a high-quality, technical journal that addresses the state of the art in engineering management and helps engineering managers in their professional development. The journal focuses on providing new theories and tools, insightful and innovative applications, and clear descriptions of well-known engineering management principles. Articles are classified as research manuscripts, applied engineering management manuscripts such as case studies and overviews of practice, and management tools such as tutorials, critiques, and opinions. Members can subscribe to EMJ by going to (www.asme.org/pubs/journals/emj.html) or by calling 800-843-2763. A subscription for ASME members is $40. If you wish to submit an article to EMJ, contact Mike Ambrose at ambrosem1@asme.org.

Whether you are an aspiring CEO, current CEO, small business manager, project manager, or student, there is a place in the Management Division for you. We welcome everyone regardless of state of your career (i.e., current manager, transitioning to management, or interested in engineering management). Please feel free to contact a member of the Executive Committee (www.asme.org/divisions/management/ committees/ exec.html), or the contacts listed above for more information.