Robert Gao, the Cady Staley Professor of Engineering and chair of Case Western Reserve University’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, has been selected to receive the 2025 SME Gold Medal in recognition of outstanding service to the manufacturing engineering profession in technical communications through published literature, technical writings or lectures.
Gao is one of seven manufacturing professionals from industry and academia who are being recognized with 2025 International Honor Awards by SME, a nonprofit that represents the manufacturing industry in North America.
“This achievement is a result of many contributions from my students and collaborators who worked closely with me on advancing the state of manufacturing,” Gao said. “I share this honor with them and look forward to continuing our effort in elevating the stature of Case Western Reserve University as a leader in AI-enhanced manufacturing.”
The SME Gold Medal is one of several International Honor Awards SME presents annually. Honorees are chosen for their significant contributions to manufacturing technologies, processes, technical writing, education, research, management, and service to SME, according to a press release from SME.
Gao has been a member of SME since 2005. In 2019, he received the SME Eli Whitney Productivity Award, which recognizes distinguished accomplishments in improving capability within the broad concept of orderly production. In 2020, SME named Gao one of the 20 most influential professors in smart manufacturing.
This year’s SME awardees will be honored during the organization’s International Awards Gala in Detroit on May 4.