Glossary

SAE International is a global, professional engineering organization that develops technical standards, publishes research, and provides education for industries involved in mobility, including automotive, aerospace, commercial vehicles, off-highway equipment, and industrial manufacturing. Although rooted in the automotive world (originally the Society of Automotive Engineers), SAE has evolved into a broad standards body that supports any sector dealing with vehicles, engines, motion, mechanical systems, and materials.

For the fastener industry, SAE International is particularly important because it creates and maintains the SAE J-standards—the specifications used for SAE bolt grades such as Grade 2, Grade 5, and Grade 8, along with numerous standards covering material composition, mechanical properties, testing methods, and marking requirements. Manufacturers, distributors, and engineers rely on SAE’s standards to ensure fasteners are consistent, safe, and interchangeable, regardless of who produced them.

Outside of fasteners, SAE International manages thousands of specifications and publishes technical papers, organizes conferences, provides training and certifications, and serves as a major source of engineering knowledge for mobility-related industries. Its work influences vehicle design, aerospace components, lubricants, materials, testing protocols, and emerging technologies like electric vehicles and autonomous systems.