DEARBORN, Mich., June 12, 2012 For more than 50 years, Hiroyuki Yoshikawas vision and commitment to manufacturing has led to tremendous advancement in the field for which he received the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) highest recognition: Honorary Membership.
Yoshikawa, the director general of the Centre for Research and Development Strategy at the Science and Technology Agency of Japan, was honored for his many contributions in the international academic, industrial and government manufacturing engineering communities. He received the Honorary Membership at SMEs International Awards Gala during the Societys 2012 Annual Conference on June 4, 2012 in Cleveland.
Dr. Yoshikawas pioneering developments have achieved international recognition and implementation throughout the manufacturing community, said LaRoux Gillespie, SME 2012 president. SME was pleased to recognize him for the outstanding contribution he has made to our industry.
An SME Honorary Membership is conferred upon an individual of recognized ability and stature who has, by voluntary action, contributed their substantial skills and talent to accomplish the goals of the Society. This award is one of the most prestigious honors presented by the Society and is reserved for those exhibiting professional eminence among manufacturing engineers.
Most notable was Yoshikawas pioneering role in general design theory, which is common through different engineering disciplines and is the most crucial to develop logical planning of manufacturing. Many international experts in design engineering have been using his theory to develop new applications.
Through his commitment to leadership, Yoshikawa proposed a unique collaborative program called Intelligent Manufacturing Systems (IMS). This program became a model for international cooperation on subjects of importance to manufacturing development for the next generation of products. With Yoshikawas guidance, the program was implemented worldwide by academic institutions, corporations and government agencies.
As president of the International Institution of Production Research (CIRP), Yoshikawa led the society to develop manufacturing science research related to the environment and global warming, from the view point of production and usage of artificial products.
Yoshikawa received his Bachelor of Engineering degree in 1956 and his Doctor of Engineering in 1964 from the University of Tokyo. He is a fellow of several academic engineering academies including fellow of Engineering Academy of the Czech Republic and fellow of Royal Academy of Engineering of the United Kingdom.
His past positions include president of University of Tokyo (1993), president of the International Council of Science (1999), and president of National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (2001).
To learn more about SME Honorary Membership, visit www.sme.org/honorarymembers.
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About SME:
The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) is the premier source for manufacturing knowledge, education and networking. Through its many programs, events, activities and online training division, Tooling U, SME connects manufacturing practitioners to each other, to the latest technologies and to the most up-to-date manufacturing processes. SME has members around the world and is supported by a network of chapters and technical communities. A 501(c)3 organization, SME is a leader in manufacturing workforce development issues, working with industry, academic and government partners to support the current and future skilled workforce.