Executive Summary
These are unsettling times that are having an impact on STLE members, both professionally and personally, however, one thing is for certain STLE will always continue to serve our members with access to the tools, resources, and most importantly—the community of peers—that can help you upgrade your technical knowledge, advance your career and help you better serve your organizations and customers through this unprecedented time. This month’s survey questions showed the value lubrication professionals and tribology researchers place on their STLE memberships and the benefits they receive by affiliating with the world’s top lubrication experts. For them STLE provides a technical home base, a place where they can enhance their professional development, stay informed of the latest technological advancements and have access to an international community of colleagues and friends. STLE membership also confers instant industry credibility. “Being a member of the elite lubrication organization in the world,” said one survey respondent. And the benefits just keep accruing. Nearly a quarter of this month’s survey respondents have maintained continuous membership for more than 20 years. “If there was no STLE, what would we do? With whom could we talk about all these tricky and fun lubrication and tribology queries?” one TLT reader said. “It would be a lonelier planet, and our work would be more difficult and less successful.”
Q.1. Which of STLE’s member benefit(s) do you find most useful and why?
TLT magazine.
Networking. The ability to meet peers, suppliers, customers and discuss innovative ways to solve problems.
Excellent information about tribology and lubrication! The Society is unique.
Annual Meeting, TLT, networking opportunities.
The membership directory, which helps to keep track of people throughout the industry. Also, the white papers (e.g., Emerging Trends report) provides very useful information.
Networking.
Certification and educational training opportunities.
How long have you been an STLE member?
Less than 5 years.
30%
5-10 years.
15%
11-20 years.
23%
More than 20 years.
32%
Based on responses sent to 15,000 TLT readers.
The CLS certification because it gives me more credibility and TLT magazine because it educates me.
Local sections and the annual meeting for the opportunity to network and keep current with emerging trends. I participate in our section’s scholarship program, which is an opportunity to recognize and reward upcoming industry leaders.
(1.) TLT magazine. I learn something every issue. (2.) CLS certification. I earned the credential because of STLE’s reputation in the industry and upholding high standards of excellence.
The ability to network with industry professionals as well as attending education courses to expand my knowledge. As this industry changes, STLE provides the ability to stay current with new knowledge and trends. I find this gives me an advantage over my peers.
Keeping up with the latest technology. I would have no other way to do this.
All the access to various learning opportunities through textbooks, papers, or seminars.
Webinars, as they usually deal with current challenges in the industry.
STLE provides members with the opportunity to grow within the industry, at their own pace, through the training programs offered, as well as the information published in TLT. The annual meeting also enables members to learn about areas of tribology that are outside of their current field of interest.
Receiving TLT is a benefit because I can keep myself updated on the last developments regarding lubricant additives.
Annual meetings and technical presentations.
I like the monthly section meetings because I can connect with other industry professionals. I also enjoy the weekly newsletter, which keeps me updated with information and reminders about section meetings and annual meeting updates.
TLT and discounted annual meeting attendance.
All of them.
Availability to TLT, Tribology Transactions and the other technical journals containing the actual knowledge for the area I am interested in. I utilize it also in contacts with students.
The annual meeting and local chapter meetings. These are how I keep current on the industry and keep in contact with the friends I’ve made through the years.
Education courses such as the metalworking fluids course and access to publications. Network of industry experts.
Networking. The ability to share common experiences and find new ones, share issues and hear novel solutions. Participating in a local section is a tremendous benefit.
Discounted conference registrations for student members.
The monthly magazine and reduced cost on books, training materials and conferences.
TLT. It is a high quality, well-written publication with a good assortment of article topics. I’m proud to display it in my workplace, and it does get passed around a lot.
Educational opportunities. Being able to have lubrication updates available and receiving discounts on continuing education programs.
TLT, Tribology Transactions and Tribology Letters. Keeping up to date with the latest research and technology.
I find STLE’s informational offerings to be most beneficial to me, particularly TLT and the local section education events. I’m relatively new to the industry and they’ve been invaluable in deepening my knowledge of lubricant chemistry.
Latest overview of lubricant analyses.
Discounts on the annual meeting, as well as the education courses and attending local section events. These discounts make learning and networking more affordable, especially for those of us who pay our own way.
TLT. World-class periodical covering the breadth of tribology topics every month.
The annual conference is really great for me. I am relatively new to the field and still exploring other benefits.
Q.2. What does your STLE membership mean to you?
Connection to STLE and the whole lubricants industry.
My membership enables a door to many experts and useful information.
Part of my continuous need for education, as well as networking in the industry.
Being a member of the elite lubrication organization in the world.
I utilize my certifications every day and very proud to have achieved them. The knowledge I have gained helps with dealing with customers to overcome an issue and solve problems.
Solid technical representation.
Getting updates on training classes, information on new lubrication concepts.
Ability to attend the annual meetings at a reduced rate.
Personal pride in supporting sound technical decisions.
It keeps me “plugged in” to what is happening in the industry and academia.
Continuing education. It means as long as I apply myself, there is no fear of falling behind the times in the tribology industry.
STLE membership is an important tool in navigating this industry. It has allowed me to expand my network, as well as maintaining contact with people in the industry.
Mostly recognition that I am in the field of metalworking.
It allows me to broaden my knowledge base on trends in new hydraulic fluids and greases, upcoming regulations and implementation challenges.
Membership in a highly respected technical group of specialists that continues to grow as technology improves.
To me it’s important being part of the STLE community because I’m always in contact with potential suppliers of lubricant additives and informed about the latest technology developments.
Networking opportunities and education on trends in lubrication. Also, certification and courses during the annual meeting.
It is a great source of technical information, education, and most of all to my business is the networking opportunities.
My membership means that I have a good network of other industry professionals that I can learn and share knowledge of tribology.
I’ve been an STLE member for more than 40 years. It is a great organization for the lubricants industry. Since we are in the lubricants business, STLE contributes a great deal to our company.
My employer requires membership. Also gives me up to date information useful to my position in the company.
I’m part of a multidisciplinary organization where I can both share my knowledge and learn from colleagues.
It’s good to be able to discuss problems with people with extensive industry experience. In the near future, participation in annual meetings will enable face-to-face contacts.
It means I am part of a community of peers with similar interests.
Outstanding society and great interaction opportunities.
I am new to tribology and STLE (less than 5 years). My career has benefited greatly from the conferences, education courses, publications, and especially the contacts with industry professionals.
Most active connection to tribology activity.
It offers a pathway to current events and updates in the lubricants industry.
It’s a way to stay connected with professionals that have similar interests.
Expertise. Knowledge. Opportunity.
Networking. I have made significant professional contacts—but also lifelong friends.
Sense of belonging and credibility in the field.
If there was no STLE, what would we do?
With whom could we talk about all these tricky and fun lubrication and tribology queries? It would be a more lonelier planet, and our work would be more difficult and less successful.
It’s been a key part of my professional development and has enabled my continual learning.
STLE membership has been a great way to broaden my industry knowledge and make friends in the process.
To me, being an STLE member is about learning, making lifelong friends and giving back to others and to STLE. Being a member has been personally gratifying and has helped me significantly in my career development.
As a lubrication professional, having the OMA-I designation is important and having STLE provide additional technical information is critical to staying abreast of the industry.
Access to tribology information, 24/7/365!
STLE is the primary organization for what I do, and I will continue to become more involved each year. STLE to me means access to leading researchers and groups in my field and ample resources as I learn.