Ajay Malshe, Distinguished Professor of mechanical engineering, was recognized with the prestigious S.M. Wu Research Implementation Award from the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, a premier international society dedicated for manufacturing engineering. The award recognizes outstanding original fundamental research presented at SME's manufacturing conference, subsequently implemented in industry, and having significant commercial and/or societal impact. Significant number of Malshe's discoveries and inventions have been converted to manufacturing practice. He and his team have invented, manufactured and implemented hundreds of breakthrough award winning products for numerous Fortune 500 Oil and Gas, EV, HD Trucking, Industrial and other companies.

SME's award honors Shien-Ming Wu (1924-92), PhD, FSME, the J. Reid and Polly Anderson Professor of Manufacturing Technology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, an internationally known researcher in the fields of manufacturing engineering and dynamic systems analysis. Wu was the first researcher to introduce advanced statistical techniques to manufacturing research, called the dynamic data system, which is the basis for quality improvement programs implemented by manufacturing firms worldwide, including General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler Corp.

John A. White, University of Arkansas Distinguished Professor and chancellor emeritus and member of the NanoMech Advisory Board, noted, "Dr. Malshe's recognition by SME is well-deserved. He is recognized globally as a triple-threat in manufacturing engineering: he extends the frontiers of knowledge through his research; he transfers his research findings into products that deliver incredible performance benefits for his customers; and he brings his knowledge and experience into the classrooms, equipping students to make significant engineering contributions. We are most fortunate to have him located in Northwest Arkansas and affiliated with the University of Arkansas."

 Malshe, who earned his doctorate in 1992, is an inventor and a discoverer, educator and an entrepreneur. He is recognized as a pioneer and the global-expert in the field of materials, manufacturing and system integration. He has won 37 prestigious awards and recognitions including fellowships from four of the world's leading societies for mechanical engineering (ASME), materials (ASM), manufacturing (CIRP) and physics (IOP), 3 Edison awards, R&D 100 awards and a Tibbetts award. Malshe is the founder and chief technology officer of NanoMech Industries (www.nanomech.com). NanoMech is a Materials Science and Manufacturing global company in the business sector of "Specialty Chemicals and Coatings." NanoMech is equipped with the world's first ISO 9001 qualified nanomanufacturing factories and has multiples offices across the United States.

Tim Shinbara, vice president of technology for AMT-The Association For Manufacturing Technology, said, "Dr. Malshe has been a mentor, pioneer, and great friend to me in many ways. I have observed Ajay over many years internationally and within the AMT membership from CIRP General Assembly sessions to showcasing next-gen productivity at our Emerging Technology Center at IMTS. This honor awarded to Dr. Malshe is well-deserved and fitting as his research, much like Professor Wu's, blossomed from academia to both create and move an industrial market. The AMT and I offer our upmost congratulations to Dr. Malshe's recognition!"

Malshe has published more than 220 peer-reviewed publications, and delivered more than 110 invited talks globally. He has graduated more than 50 graduate students (doctoral and master's), trained numerous post-doctoral fellows, and provided research experience to several STEM undergraduate and STEM high school students and teachers.