The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) is an American professional

association that, in its own words, "promotes the art, science, and practice of multidisciplinary
engineering and allied sciences around the globe" via "continuing education, training
and professional development, codes and standards, research, conferences and publications,
government relations, and other forms of outreach." [2] ASME is thus an engineering society,
a standards organization, a research and development organization, an advocacy organization[3], a
provider of training and education, and a nonprofit organization. Founded as an engineering society
focused on mechanical engineering in North America, ASME is today multidisciplinary and global.
ASME has over 110,000 members in more than 150 countries worldwide. [4][5]
ASME was founded in 1880 by Alexander Lyman Holley, Henry Rossiter Worthington, John Edison
Sweet and Matthias N. Forney in response to numerous steam boiler pressure vessel failures.
[6]
Known for setting codes and standards for mechanical devices, ASME conducts one of the world's
largest technical publishing operations,[7] holds numerous technical conferences and hundreds
of professional development courses each year, and sponsors numerous outreach and educational
programs.

Contents

 1ASME codes and standards

o 1.1ASME boiler and pressure vessel code (BPVC)

o 1.2Other notable standardization areas

 2Society awards

o 2.1ASME Fellows

 3ASME E-Fests

 4Student competitions

 5Organization

 6Controversy

 7See also

 8References

 9Further reading

 10External links

ASME codes and standards[edit]

ASME is one of the oldest standards-developing organizations in America. It produces approximately
600 codes and standards covering many technical areas, such as fasteners, plumbing fixtures,
elevators, pipelines, and power plant systems and components. ASME's standards are developed by
committees of subject matter experts using an open, consensus-based process. Many ASME
standards are cited by government agencies as tools to meet their regulatory objectives. ASME
standards are therefore voluntary, unless the standards have been incorporated into a legally
binding business contract or incorporated into regulations enforced by an authority having
jurisdiction, such as a federal, state, or local government agency. ASME's standards are used in
more than 100 countries and have been translated into numerous languages. [8]

ASME boiler and pressure vessel code (BPVC)[edit]

Main article: ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code
The largest ASME standard, both in size and in the number of volunteers involved in its preparation,
is the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC). The BPVC provides rules for the design,
fabrication, installation, inspection, care, and use of boilers, pressure vessels, and nuclear
components. The code also includes standards on materials, welding and brazing procedures and
qualifications, nondestructive examination, and nuclear in-service inspection.

Other notable standardization areas[edit]

Other Notable Standardization Areas include but not limited to are; Elevators and Escalators (A17
Series), Overhead and Mobile Cranes and related lifting and rigging equipment (B30 Series), Piping
and Pipelines (B31 Series), Bio-processing Equipment (BPE), Valves Flanges, Fittings and Gaskets
(B16), Nuclear Components and Processes Performance Test Codes.

Society awards[edit]
ASME offers four categories of awards: achievement awards to recognize "eminently distinguished
engineering achievement"; literature awards for original papers; service awards for voluntary service
to ASME; and unit awards, jointly awarded by six societies in recognition of advancement in the field
of transportation. [9]

 ASME Medal
 Charles T. Main Student Leadership Award

 Holley Medal

 Honorary Member

 Kate Gleason Award

 Henry Laurence Gantt Medal

 Leonardo Da Vinci Award

 Melville Medal

 Old Guard Early Career Award

 Ralph Coats Roe Medal

 Soichiro Honda Medal

ASME Fellows[edit]
ASME Fellow is a Membership Grade of Distinction conferred by The ASME Committee of Past
Presidents[10] to an ASME member with significant publications or innovations and distinguished
scientific and engineering background. Over 3,000 members have attained the grade of Fellow.
[10]
The ASME Fellow membership grade is the highest elected grade in ASME. [11]
ASME E-Fests[edit]
ASME runs several annual E-Fests, or Engineering Festivals [12], taking the place of the Student
Professional Development Conference (SPDC) series [13]. In addition to the Human Powered Vehicle
Challenge (HPVC), the Innovative Additive Manufacturing 3D Challenge (IAM3D), the Student
Design Competition, and the Old Guard Competition [14], there are also talks, interactive workshops,
and entertainment.[15]. These events allows students to network with working engineers, host
contests, and promote ASME's benefits to students as well as professionals. E-Fests are held in four
regions in the United States and internationally [16]—western U.S, eastern U.S., Asia Pacific, and
South America—with the E-Fest location for each region changing every year. [17]

Student competitions[edit]
ASME holds a variety of competitions every year for engineering students from around the world. [18]

 Human Powered Vehicle Challenge (HPVC)

 Student Design Competition (SDC)

 Innovative Design Simulation Challenge (IDSC)

 Innovative Additive Manufacturing 3D Challenge (IAM3D)

 Old Guard Competitions

 Innovation Showcase (IShow)

 Student Design Expositions

Organization