Society of Automotive Engineers - 'SAE'
SAE International ​
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Formerly known as the Society of Automotive Engineers, it is a US-based, globally active, professional association and standards organization for engineering professionals in various industries. The emphasis is placed on the transportation industry such as automotive, aviation and commercial vehicles. The association coordinates the development of technical standards based on the best researches identified and described by SAE committees and working groups. These working groups consist of professionals from relevant work areas. SAE International has more than 120,000 members worldwide. Membership is granted to individuals, not companies. In addition to the standardization efforts, resources are also devoted to projects and programs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics education, professional certification, and peer design competitions.
History of the Society of Automobile Engineers
In the early 1900's there were dozens of car manufacturers in the USA and many more worldwide. These, along with component manufacturers, joined trade groups promoting these branches. The desire to jointly solve technical and/or design problems and to develop technical standards was great. The wish was expressed for the free exchange of ideas. Two editors, Peter Heldt of 'The Horseless Age' and Horase Swetland of 'The Automobile', were strong supporters of the SAE. Heldt wrote an article in June 1902 in which he said that a clear trend was emerging. There would be a demand for a technical institute that would deal with the technical side of the car. Swetland also wrote about this and even became an SAE official. Two years after Heldt's article, the SAE was founded in New York. 4 officials and 5 senior officials volunteered. In 1905, Andrew Riker served as president with Henry Ford as vice president. The original membership fee was $10. The organization grew steadily during the first 10 years and full-time employees were hired. In addition, a trade journal and a collection of technical papers, previously called SAE Transactions, were published. These still exist today in the form of the SAE International journal. By 1916, the SAE had 1,800 members. At the annual meeting, other industries also requested supervision from their technical standards. Including the aviation, shipping and agricultural industries. The aviation industry was still very young and representatives included Thomas Edison, Glenn Curtiss, Glenn Martin and Orville Wright.
As a result of this meeting, a new organization was created representing engineers of all forms of mobility. SAE member Elmer Sperry created the term 'automotive' from the Greek 'auto' (self) and the Latin 'motivus' (motion) to represent any form of self-propelled vehicle. The Society of Automobile Engineers became the Society of Automotive Engineers.
Charles Kettering was president of the SAE during the 1st world war and saw the number of members increase to 5,000. During this time, he emphasized the importance of local chapters, called sections. After the 2nd World War, contacts were made with other similar institutes all over the world. Since then, the SAE has had sections in Brazil, India, China, Russia and Egypt, among others. By 1980, the number had already passed 35,000. Over the next two decades, society, industry, and the public it served only grew larger, more diverse, and more electronic. Now, by 2010, the organization serves more than 120,000 members, more than a quarter of whom are outside of North America.
Timeline:
1904
Edward Tracy Birdsall, member of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, invites others to the Automobile Club of America at
5th ave. 753, New York, NY to found an organization of automotive engineers. Among the guests were Horace Swetland, publisher of trade journal The Automobile, and seven others. Henry Ford, although invited, did not participate.
1905
30 members of the society of automobile engineers gathered in New York to elect the board. The outcome:
President: Andrew L. Riker, engine designer at Locomobile
First Vice President: Henry Ford
Second Vice President: John Wilkinson, engine designer for the Franklin car
Secretary Treasurer: Edward Birdsall
SAE Council: Horace Swetland, The Automobile
Allen H Whiting, New York manufacturer of the Whiting car
Hiram P Maxim, The Electric Vehicle Company
HW Alden, The Electric Vehicle Company
LT Gibbs
H Vanderbeek
1906
Registered Membership: 52; 32 members from 9 states attend a meeting. Volume 1, no. 0, of the SAE Transactions was printed on three pages.
1907
Registered Membership: 100
1908
Registered Membership: 150
1909
'Society' was included in the name and the original SAE logo is introduced. Membership reaches the 400.
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1911
SAE is formally situated in New York City. The Association of Licensed Automobile Manufacturers will be dissolved following a court ruling. The SAE takes over the technical section of the ALAM. This starts the standardization of the SAE program. The SAE opens membership to anyone with a "responsible commercial or financial standing." The SAE Bulletin is established.
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1912
SAE publishes its first standard. ALAM is officially discontinued. Henry Leland has been president of the organization for 2 years.
He was one of the first members and from his profession he quickly realized the need for standards. His life revolved around precision and tolerances.
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1913
Membership exceeds 1700.
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1914
Initial publication of SAE's annual collection of standards in the SAE Data Book.
1915
SAE moves its headquarters to the Engineering Societies Building. SAE standardization reduces the number of different rings used by 90% (there were around 300), reduced 1600 sizes of seamless steel pipes to 221. The first education department was established at Cornell University.
1916
SAE opens an office in Detroit and admit members of the American Society of Aeronautical Engineers, de Society of Tractor Engineers, National Association of Engine and Boat Manufacturers, de National Gas Engine Association and the American Society of Agricultural Engineers. The National Gas Engine Association and the National Association of Engine and Boat Manufacturers pool their standards to match those of the SAE. SAE publishes the first aviation standard.
1917
Elmer Sperry introduces the word automotive to name all self-driving vehicles; SAE changes its abbreviation to . in February Society of Automotive Engineers. National Automobile Chamber of Commerce supports the standards. Into the office Washington DC will be located in the Munsey Trust Building. It SAE's Journal is released.
1918
Orville Wright writes to Charles Witteman of the Witteman–Lewis Aircraft Company. He opens with: "My dear Mr. Witteman: as your name does not appear on the roster of the Society of automotive engineers, I suspect the advantages of membership have not been presented to you. The work covered by the SAE is of such value that everybody identified with the industry should take out membership."
1919
Membership rises to over 4300.
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1920
Membership reaches 5000, including SAE's first female member, Nellie M. Scott, treasurer of the Bantam Ball Bearing company from Bantam, Connecticut.
1921
SAE standard number 224. The automotive industry estimates that the SAE standards Saving $750 million, equivalent to 15% of the sales value of the cars sold.
1922
Membership exceeds 5000.
1926
And 6000.
1927
The first SAE award is issued, The Wright Brothers Medal for the best thesis on the subject of aircraft.
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1930
25th anniversary, membership over 7000.
1933
Fuel and lubricants committee is established.
1935
Tractor and Industrial Power Equipment Meetings Committee is established.
1936
SAE's first National Aircraft Production Meeting is held.
1939
The SAE War Engineering Board is established to evaluate defense problems and to deploy committees of specialists to devise solutions.
1940
Membership reaches 5855.
1942
The War Activity Council is established to coordinate the deployment of the Allies.
1943
The War Activity Office is established in Detroit.
1944
The Special Publication Department is established.
1945
Membership surpasses 12,000.
1946
The Technical Board is established. They create standards for design, manufacturing, testing, quality control and tenders.
1947
Formal Engineering Meetings Structure is established. It Engineering Materials Meetings Committee is established.
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1958
The Sections Board is established to To guide SAE sections and to keep the board informed.
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1961
SAE Aerospace standard number 1000.
1966
SAE publications receive international recognition.
1967
The slogan "land, sea, air, and space" is added to the SAE logo.
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1973
SAE launches the first design competitions for students; the Recreational Ecological Vehicle Contest.
1974
SAE moves its headquarters to a new location in Thorn Hill in Warrendale, PA, 20 miles north of Pittsburgh, PA. Warrendale is named the global headquarters of the SAE.
1976
SAE officially launches its Collegiate Design Series.
1977
The SAE 'Fellow award' is issued to recognize achievements and technology and engineering.
1978
The SAE Women Engineers Committee is established.
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1981
The collegiate design competition 'Formula SAE' begins. The first part of 'Aerospace Engineering Magazine' is published.
1983
SAE starts its Professional Development Program to train and certify mobility engineers.
1986
SAE establishes the SAE Foundation to fund and promote mathematics and science in education.
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1990
SAE foundation launches 'A World in Motion' with the specific aim of introducing a new style of pedagogy for natural sciences in grades 4, 5 and 6. SAE directs it Performance Review Institute, a non-profit organization, to develop and certify performance standards to SAE standards. SAE forms its first international partnership with SAE Brazil.
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2002
SAE recognizes its second partnership with SAE India.
2004
The Institute of Vehicle Engineers, in the UK, joins forces with the United Kingdom's Midlands SAE Section to create SAE UK. SAE membership reaches 84,000.
2005
SAE Aerospace standard number 6200. SAE celebrates its 100th anniversary with SAE 100.
2006
SAE officially changes its name from Society of Automotive Engineers in SAE International to reflect the increasingly international nature of its activities and membership.
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2010
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SAE Membership Reaches 120,000
