ASME acquires Women in 3D Printing

 The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) has finalized an agreement to assume the operations and acquire the assets of Women in 3D Printing (Wi3DP). Since 2014, Wi3DP has been “promoting, supporting and inspiring women using additive manufacturing technologies” across various industries and applications, and currently includes more than 13,000 members in 100 chapters worldwide.

“Women in 3D Printing has had an incredible 10-year journey. Along the way, it became clear that additional resources were needed to sustain and expand our mission,” said Nora Toure, founder and board chair. “Joining forces with ASME ensures that the spirit and impact of Wi3DP will be preserved, while gaining the structure and support needed to grow, evolve, and reach even greater heights.”

According to Wi3DP research and Diversity for Additive Manufacturing reports, 13% of the AM/3DP workforce is women, and 11% of businesses in the industry are women-owned. Wi3DP’s goal is to bring those numbers up to 50%. Comparatively, around 16–17% of engineers in the U.S. are women, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and National Science Foundation, with variations by engineering discipline. Roughly 9% of mechanical engineers are women.

“An inclusive engineering community leads to more innovation,” said Stephanie Viola, executive director of the ASME Foundation and managing director of ASME Philanthropy and Programs. “Together, ASME and Women in 3D Printing can help address the workforce gap while also ensuring that engineering remains an open and welcoming field for all who can and aspire to contribute toward solutions for global challenges.”