August 28, 2023 by SME Hello fellow members, my name is Krishna Vuppala, lead manufacturing engineer with John Deere in Waterloo, Iowa, and an SME Member Council representative. “Manufacturing” started to amaze me the moment I realized that everything we see around us needs to be manufactured for us to use it. I’m very fortunate to be involved in manufacturing, adding value to customers in many ways. Getting involved with SME added more meaning to my purpose for being in manufacturing. While enrolled in the master's program at the University of Missouri, I started my journey with SME with the gift of membership from a good friend. I retained the membership and started to make more use of it starting in 2017 by becoming the chair-elect for Waterloo Chapter 186. I took my time to learn the ropes in the chair-elect role, which laid a strong foundation to make the chapter successful. When I became chair in 2019, I dreamt about seeing Waterloo Chapter 186 attain Platinum Chapter status. Under my leadership and with a lot of teamwork, our chapter was awarded Platinum Chapter status by being highly rated in four different areas: professional development, communications, advancement of manufacturing, and merit. It is very fulfilling to see Waterloo Chapter 186 continue to hold Platinum Chapter status In 2021, I transitioned out of the chair role to serve SME as a member of the Chapter Enhancement Committee (CEC), which is focused on helping chapters with the resources and best practices needed to excel. In 2022, I was a co-chair for the CEC. Even though COVID impacted their lives in one way or another, the committee members made sure chapters were getting the help they needed to be successful. In fact, it helped broaden our network with subject-matter experts in various fields of manufacturing. I support student chapters in Iowa by helping with their project activities and their participation in nationwide competitions. Every year, we ensure the Waterloo Chapter 186 raises enough funds from the annual golf event to provide opportunities to students from Waterloo/Cedar Falls to visit IMTS, FABTECH or RAPID+TCT events in Chicago. It gives me a lot of pleasure watching students learn and prepare for the future in a fast-paced world. In addition, I help mentor students through the opportunities available so they can focus on t their potential professional growth. SME student members have access to plenty of resources to shine in their career. SME offers scholarships from the SME Education Foundation, opportunities to participate in competitions, gain access to events, and networking opportunities to build a career path for easy transition after graduation. SME PRIME schools across the U.S. are great assets for high school students to be introduced to manufacturing and receive direction from mentors to be successful. SME student members also have access to Tooling U-SME resources to prepare them to experience the latest trends in manufacturing while enrolled in school/college. I am passionate about SME because SME provides opportunities to learn, engage and advance in manufacturing. I am fortunate to have SME assist me in accomplishing my mission of helping students find the right resources for success SME is a great platform for members to enjoy access to multiple resources – SME Connect, monthly magazines, events, and webinars to excel in their day-to-day manufacturing activities. The bright future of manufacturing depends on the current generation of leaders we are building. Together with SME we are able to make that happen. In 2023, I was appointed as a Member Council Representative to help enhance member engagement, retention, and recruitment with the goal of serving professionals from different backgrounds in the manufacturing industry. In this role, I help chapters and their members across the globe maximize the value of membership. Thank you, SME, for all the opportunities given to me – I’m looking forward to making a positive difference through SME.
