SAE International prides itself in serving all sectors of mobility engineering—aerospace, automotive, and commercial vehicle. Each discipline requires a different and unique set of knowledge and training; we work hard to provide that information in an efficient and cost-effective way.
But, these three sectors also have much in common. Often, they share the business challenges that face organizations today. All three were hit hard by the global economic crisis of two years ago—the recovery is ongoing. That crisis greatly changed how organizations do business. It impacted how much money those organizations have to spend on research and development, and it impacted the overall knowledge base of the organizations, as well. Why? Many companies had to reorganize and downsize to stay competitive and reposition for the future.
When that happens, talented and creative people have to be let go. Such actions can cause a knowledge drain or a knowledge void for the organization.
It is imperative to address such a loss of knowledge because, if left unchecked, it can hamper even the best recovery plans. We at SAE International understand that. That's why many of our programs, products, and services are geared to help “refill” that knowledge base.
Bob Sechler, SAE International’s Manager of Education Relations, and his team are constantly busy creating and coordinating the Collegiate Design Series competitions for college students across North America and the world. This series of events challenges students to work together as a team to design and build remote-controlled aircraft, Formula cars, Baja vehicles, environmentally friendly snowmobiles, or super-high-mileage gasoline vehicles under a strict set of engineering and budget criteria.
It's real-world learning at the university level. It also prepares these students to step right into the professional world and immediately be effective team members because they have a unique level of skill sets.
For the seasoned professionals who may be at a crossroads and need to enhance their skill sets, SAE International again can help to provide the answers. Kevin Perry, Manager of Professional Development, leads a team of staff members who create sets of learning seminars, products, and tools designed to enhance current skills and provide new ones. The courses are created to be cost-effective and convenient. And, most importantly, they are created to help the individual keep moving forward professionally.
For organizations that may have suffered a knowledge drain or for organizations that want to bolster their overall employee learning competency, Perry and his team offer in-house corporate learning solutions. These programs provide administrative coordination from SAE International, customized training options tailored to relate directly to a company's business, and continuing education units to all attendees.
The common goal among all of these programs is to help mobility engineering organizations and professionals stay competitive in a challenging business environment. And that goal reaches across the spectrum of mobility engineering—whether it’s aerospace, automotive, or commercial vehicle.
SAE International has the tools to help organizations and individuals build upon the knowledge base they already have and forge a continuing education for the future.
David L. Schutt, SAE Chief Executive Officer