SME CHAPTER 82 NORTHERN PIEDMONT                                                                                            

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?

By: Dennis Goldensohn

January 2026

It is a New Year, and this is the first in a series of articles, WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN? Each month a new subject-topic will be discussed to see how the events and or technology is affecting our industry, Manufacturing. 

This month we will be looking into why it is important to be a member of a student chapter and professional organization chapter.

Many years ago, I had the opportunity to be invited to a Professional Development Meeting-PDM,  and I was quite surprised to find that I learned so much from the presentation and have the opportunity to NETWORK with industry leaders and other members of the professional organization. After attending several monthly meetings, I decided that it was time to join and become a member. The organization that I joined was APICS and eventually after 20 plus years and serving on the chapter’s board of directors, I became the president. In addition to being a member of APICS, I also along the way became a member of SME. At the present time I am a retired member and serve on the North Piedmont 082 Chapter’s BOD. Through all of these years, the opportunity in being a member and to serve on a board of directors gave me skillsets that otherwise I would not have had. 

Networking is probably one of the best reasons to be a member. It gives others an opportunity to know who you are and you in turn have an opportunity to build relationships outside of the workplace. This can lead to job offers and sometimes it is who you know that can make a difference in finding a job or not. For college and vocational students, the same advantages apply. As far as your resume goes, having this on your resume shows those who you are going to interview with, will show you have a deep interest in manufacturing and have the skillsets to meet the job requirements that you may be applying for!

Another reason why it is important and advantages in becoming a member of a professional organization, is to learn new concepts, e.g. Lean, Six Sigma, 3D printing, and others. Technology and theories change so quickly, that you as a professional must keep up with what is happening in the Manufacturing industry. They say, “Knowledge is Power”! So, having this advantage will only help you advance in your career and career path. 

So, what does this all mean? It means  by participating and being a member in a professional organization like The Society of Manufacturing-SME, you will have opportunities to grow in your position-career and be able to meet others who are in the same field. Networking is a very valuable resource and gives you the opportunity to learn new ideas, technologies, and theories. This in turn, can be applied at your place of business and it also adds value to your employment at the company. In other words, your company will value your contributions and also give you an opportunity to chose other career paths within the organization. 

Last, you will also be supporting the Manufacturing industry and also be a mentor to others as your journey continues in Manufacturing! That is what it all means!