LOS ANGELES -- The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) will host the WESTEC 2008 Event, March 31-April 3, 2008 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. This largest annual machine tool and manufacturing event in North America, is co- sponsored by the American Machine Tool Distributors' Association (AMTDA) and the Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT).

In its 45-year history, WESTEC has become the event West Coast manufacturers count on for both technology and professional advancement. More than 20,000 aerospace, defense, medical device and other manufacturing professionals are expected to attend this year's event. During this four-day event, attendees will have opportunities to visit more than 600 Los Angeles-area and global company exhibits as well as choose from dozens of free learning sessions. These free sessions will include WESTEC's all-new educational program and exhibit, Back-To-Basics, a Workforce Development Program housed in the Los Angeles Convention Center's Kentia Hall. For more information, visit www.sme.org.