Purdue professor Stephan Biller elected to 2026 SME College of Fellows
Stephan Biller, the Harold T. Amrine Distinguished Professor in the Edwardson School of Industrial Engineering and a Distinguished Professor of Management in the Mitch Daniels School of Business, has been elected to the 2026 Class of Fellows of SME. In addition, he is director of the Dauch Center for the Management of Manufacturing Enterprises.
Biller is one of only eight individuals nationwide selected for the honor this year. Election as an SME Fellow is among the organization’s highest distinctions, recognizing members who have made significant contributions to the manufacturing profession over at least two decades.
Since its founding in 1986, the SME College of Fellows has honored leaders who have advanced manufacturing through innovation, education and service. SME, established in 1932, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening North American manufacturing through technology adoption, workforce development and industry collaboration.
Biller’s research and leadership focus on manufacturing and operations strategy, smart manufacturing, digital twin technology, Industry 4.0 and supply chain resiliency. His work integrates artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT) to accelerate the digital transformation of manufacturing systems at scale.
“Manufacturing and supply chains are undergoing a profound transformation driven by data, connectivity, AI and digital twins,” said Biller. “I am grateful to contribute to advancing technologies and developing the next generation of leaders who will shape the future of the U.S industrial base.”
In 2022, Biller was elected to the National Academy of Engineering, one of the highest professional distinctions for engineers, for his leadership in advancing manufacturing technologies rooted in digital data and connected systems.
Before joining Purdue, Biller held several senior industry roles, including CEO of Advanced Manufacturing International, vice president of product management for AI applications and Watson IoT at IBM, chief manufacturing scientist and manufacturing technology director at General Electric, and technical fellow and group manager at General Motors.
Recognized as the top academic influencer in Industry 4.0 by Onalytica in 2023, Biller has also received multiple teaching and mentoring honors at Purdue, including consecutive Outstanding Educator Awards in 2023 and 2024 and the university’s inaugural Faculty Mentor Award in 2025.
He holds 11 patents and has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications. Biller earned his undergraduate degree in electrical engineering from RWTH Aachen University, a doctorate in industrial engineering and management sciences from Northwestern University and an Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan. He is also a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and a member of the National Academy of Inventors.