The ability to manage and administer large technical engineering and research projects and budgets will continue to challenge engineering management skills; That approximately two-thirds of all engineers were spending a substantial portion of their professional careers as managers; That the management of technology required improved management processes; and That a career path that places engineers in management must be supported by engineering management education and organizations that strive to develop and enhance management skills. Since it's founding, ASEM has grown in membership, services, and recognition in the engineering management profession. Annual conferences have been held each fall since 1980 at locations from Washington D.C. to Portland, Oregon.

The 1986 Conference was held as part of the First International Conference on Engineering Management (ICEM) in September of 1986 in Arlington, Virginia. The 1989 conference was held as part of the Second International conference on Engineering Management (ICEM-II) in Toronto, Canada.

Today, ASEM is a major professional organization dedicated to the science and art of engineering management. ASEM transcends many engineering disciplines, supporting specialties, professional affiliations, and sectors of the engineering and technical community in industry, government, private practice, and education in strategic and important roles that advance engineering management.

What does ASEM provide?
A high-quality, technical journal which speaks to the state of the art of engineering management and helps engineering managers in their professional development;
Local sections that serve as a forum where the engineering manager may meet with their peers to exchange information on common management problems;
National and international forums for the exchange of information between other managers from industry government, and educational institutions;
A newsletter with current information on activities in ASEM and the engineering management community;
The opportunity to work with peers in developing guidelines and standards of performance for the engineering manager and accreditation standards for the engineering management education;
Student chapters at educational institutions to encourage students to become aware of engineering management;
Special recognition of outstanding engineering management achievements and performance through the annual ASEM awards program.

What is Engineering Management?
Engineering Management is the art and science of planning, organizing, allocating resources, and directing and controlling activities which have a technological component.

Engineering Management is rapidly becoming recognized as a professional discipline. Engineering managers are distinguished from other managers by the fact that they possess both an ability to apply engineering principles and a skill in organizing and directing technical projects and people in technical jobs.