This prestigious award honors outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions and are responsible for improving the productivity and efficiency of manufacturing operations.
Brian J. Papke, former Chairman of Mazak Corporation and current Executive Advisor to the Board of Directors, has been recognized for his lifelong leadership and investment in research. He received the prestigious M. Eugene Merchant Manufacturing Medal/SME from ASME.
This award, established in 1986, recognizes outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions and are responsible for improving the productivity and efficiency of manufacturing operations. This honor is associated with Papcke’s long and distinguished career in the machine tool industry. He entered the machine tool industry through a management training program, then went through various positions in sales and management, eventually becoming president of Mazak, which he held for 29 years. In 2016, he was named chairman.
As the leader of Mazak, Papke created and maintained a model of continuous growth and improvement for the company by establishing three core business strategies. These strategies include on-demand lean manufacturing, the introduction of the industry’s first digitally connected Mazak iSmart factory, a comprehensive customer support program, and a unique network of eight Technology Centers and five in North America located in the Florence Country, Kentucky Technology Center.
Papcke also actively participates in the work of numerous trade association committees. He served on the Board of Directors of the Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT), which recently honored him with the Al Moore Award for his lifelong commitment to the advancement of manufacturing. Papke has also served on the Board of Directors of the American Machine Tool Distributors Association (AMTDA) and is currently a member of the Board of Gardner Business Media.
Locally, Papke has served on the Advisory Board of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and is a former Advisory Board member of the Northern Kentucky University School of Business, where he also teaches the MBA in Leadership and Ethics. During his time at Mazak, Papke built relationships with local leadership and educational institutions, supporting the development of the workforce through apprenticeship and community outreach programs.
Papke is inducted into the Northern Kentucky Business Hall of Fame by NKY Magazine and the NKY Chamber of Commerce. It celebrates the business accomplishments of men and women who have made significant contributions to the Northern Kentucky community and Tri-State Territory.
Upon receiving the M. Eugene Merchant Manufacturing Medal, Papcke would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to his family, friends, and the entire Mazak team, as well as the Yamazaki family who founded the company. Passionate about manufacturing, machine tools and Mazak for 55 years, he never considered his profession a job, but a way of life.
Post time: Nov-08-2022