American Society of Mechanical Engineers

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) is a 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."[1] ASME is thus an engineering society, a standards organization, a research and developmentorganization, a lobbying organization, 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 140,000 members in 158 countries worldwide.[2]

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.[3] Known for setting codes and standards for mechanical devices, ASME conducts one of the world's largest technical publishing operations,[4] holds numerous technical conferences and hundreds of professional development courses each year, and sponsors numerous outreach and educational programs.