Mazak’s Brian Papke Earns ASME/ME Leadership Award

Brian J. Papke, former chairman and now executive advisor to the board of Mazak Corp. Photo Credit: Mazak

Brian J. Papke, former chairman and now executive advisor to the Board of Mazak Corp., has received the M. Eugene Merchant Manufacturing Medal of ASME/SME in recognition of his lifetime of leadership and investment in research that led to advances in machine tool and factory technologies.

Throughout his career, Papke has promoted, supported and expanded applications of machine tools and manufacturing technology in ways that set the stage for digital manufacturing, drove standardization for manufacturing interconnectivity and improved the overall competitiveness of U.S. manufacturers.

Established in 1986, the award recognizes individuals who have had significant influence and responsibility for improving the productivity and efficiency of manufacturing operations. This year’s honor results from Papke's long, distinguished career that began after his graduation from the University of Illinois. He then entered the machine tool industry in a management training program, progressing through various sales and management positions, before eventually becoming president of Mazak, a position he held for 29 years. In 2016, he was named chairman.

In his leadership position at Mazak, Papke created and sustained a pattern of continuous growth and improvement for the company through the establishment of three core business strategies. Those strategies included a lean production-on-demand approach to manufacturing, implementation of the industry’s first digitally connected Mazak iSmart Factory, an all-encompassing customer support program and a network of eight technology centers and five technical centers across North America, anchored by a National Technology Center in Florence, Kentucky. 

Papke was also active in numerous trade association committees. He served on the Association of Manufacturing Technology (AMT) Board of Directors. Papke also served on the American Machine Tool Distributors’ Association (AMTDA) Board of Directors and is currently a member on the board of Gardner Business Media.

At the local level, Papke served on the Board of Advisors for the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and is a former member of the Advisory Board of the College of Business of Northern Kentucky University, where he also taught MBA courses on leadership and ethics. Throughout his tenure at Mazak, Papke has developed relationships with local leadership and educational institutions to support workforce development through apprenticeship programs and community awareness.