Purdue alumnus Keith Krach receives nation’s highest manufacturing honor 

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University announced Sept. 16 that noted alumnus Keith Krach — chair and co-founder of the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue, former U.S. under secretary of state, and business executive — has been named the 2025 recipient of the M. Eugene Merchant Manufacturing Medal.

The prestigious award, jointly awarded by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and SME (formerly known as the Society of Manufacturing Engineers) is considered among the manufacturing sector’s highest honors, recognizing exceptional innovation and leadership that advance the science and practice of manufacturing.

As chair of Purdue’s Board of Trustees from 2007-13, Krach (BS industrial engineering ’79, HDR industrial engineering ’18) helped guide a period of bold growth and transformation at the university. Today, his leadership continues through the Krach Institute, which advances trusted technology and U.S. and allied competitiveness on the global stage.

“Keith Krach’s receipt of the M. Eugene Merchant Manufacturing Medal is more than a recognition of his achievements over the decades — it’s also a signal of the kind of leadership America needs now,” said Purdue President Mung Chiang. “His ability to translate engineering excellence and economic strategy into global impact has redefined how we build, how we lead and how we compete. At the intersection of technology and diplomacy, few have done more to advance U.S. productivity, resilience and freedom.”

The honor also resonates deeply at Purdue, home to one of the nation’s most active ASME student chapters and a world-class ecosystem of faculty and student innovators advancing manufacturing, robotics and semiconductor engineering.

“Keith Krach’s career exemplifies how visionary leadership, entrepreneurial courage and engineering excellence can deliver profound, lasting impact. His work continues to shape how the world designs, manufactures, trades and transacts,” said Thomas Costabile, executive director and CEO of ASME. “This award recognizes Keith’s lifelong record of transformational leadership across technology, manufacturing, economic policy and diplomacy — driving global productivity, GDP growth and quality of life.”

Over the years, Krach’s entrepreneurial spirit grew and developed into business intellect that empowered and equipped him to launch several technology-focused companies. The passion helped prepare Krach for national service, where technology found common ground with democracy. His journey was highlighted in a recent Life & News article, “The Productivity Architect: How Keith Krach Rewired Trust, Technology, and American Competitiveness.” Krach’s leadership has driven an estimated $4.5 trillion in cumulative global productivity gains, spanning five sectors and four decades — including robotics, engineering automation, business-to-business e-commerce, digital business productivity and semiconductor manufacturing.

In addition to his current role as chair of the Krach Institute, Krach serves on the Global Tech Security Commission and the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council.

During his time as U.S. under secretary of state, Krach led the historic onshoring of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) and engineered the Clean Network Alliance of Democracies to secure 5G technology and digital infrastructure among like-minded nations.

He also played a pivotal role in the development of the CHIPS and Science Act to boost domestic research and manufacturing of semiconductors in the U.S. to strengthen national security.

“I’ve always believed that increasing productivity is the ultimate act of peace,” Krach said. “It uplifts lives, powers prosperity and safeguards freedom. In an era where economic security is national security, our mission must be to engineer trust, build resilience and lead the world by example.”

Krach’s career began at age 12, welding in his father’s small Ohio machine shop. That passion for manufacturing launched a journey that would reshape the global economy:

• GMF Robotics: As General Motors’ youngest-ever vice president at 26, Krach launched a joint venture with Fanuc that became the world’s largest industrial robotics company.
• Rasna Corp.: As co-founder and chief operating officer, Krach created the category of mechanical design synthesis, transforming how engineers optimize products digitally.
• Ariba: As co-founder, chair and CEO, Krach created the category of business-to-business e-commerce. Ariba’s network now transacts over $3.7 trillion annually, creating one of the world’s most powerful economic ecosystems.
• DocuSign: As chair and CEO, Krach created the category of digital transaction management, building the DocuSign Global Trust Network to over 1 billion users.

The Merchant Medal honors individuals whose work has advanced manufacturing technology, productivity and global competitiveness. Krach joins a distinguished list of recipients that includes Donald Petersen, former CEO of Ford Motor Co.; Norman Augustine, former CEO of Lockheed Martin; and Koichi Nishimura, former CEO of Solectron.

Krach will be formally presented with the award at the SME Fall Gala on Oct. 5 in Anaheim, California..

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a public research university leading with excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities in the United States, Purdue discovers, disseminates and deploys knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 106,000 students study at Purdue across multiple campuses, locations and modalities, including more than 57,000 at our main campus locations in West Lafayette and Indianapolis. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 14 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap — including its integrated, comprehensive Indianapolis urban expansion; the Mitch Daniels School of Business; Purdue Computes; and the One Health initiative — at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives.

About the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue

The Krach Institute is the world’s preeminent trusted technology accelerator. As the leader in the new category of tech diplomacy, the institute leverages Purdue’s strength in innovation, deep expertise in technology and global prowess in educating transformational leaders. The institute integrates technology expertise, Silicon Valley strategies and foreign policy tools to build the Global Trusted Tech Network of governments, companies, organizations and individuals to accelerate the innovation and adoption of trusted technology and ensure technology advances freedom.

Visit the Krach Institute online at techdiplomacy.org and follow on LinkedIn, X and YouTube.