The Manufacturing Institute (the Institute) and its partners announced significant progress towards achieving a five-year goal to award 500,000 industry-based credentials to individuals, positioning them for employment and advancement in manufacturing jobs. Over the past year, the certification bodies partnered with the Institute have issued 84,738 certifications to students and incumbent workers that cover in-demand, portable skill-sets necessary across multiple manufacturing sectors. With as many as 600,000 manufacturing jobs going unfilled today, this is an important step in getting unemployed Americans back to work and maintaining the competitiveness of our manufacturing economy.
“The Institute remains committed to building the educated and skilled workforce our nation’s manufacturers need to stay competitive,” said Jennifer McNelly, president, The Manufacturing Institute. “We are partnering with world-class industry certification bodies and community colleges, because they can and are delivering the in-demand skills for today’s innovation and productivity-driven workplaces.”
On June 8, 2011, President Obama announced key steps towards building the educated and skilled workforce U.S. manufacturers need to successfully compete in the 21st century economy, citing The Manufacturing Institute’s Manufacturing Skills Certification System, endorsed by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), and the certifications it includes, as a national solution. The Institute continues to work with high schools, community colleges, and employers to create for-credit education programs incorporating these national certifications so individuals get the skills and hand-on training they need for in-demand entry-level and specialized jobs in manufacturing.
“Manufacturers have long supported the Manufacturing Skills Certification System because it offers results which lead to more productivity and innovation,” said Jay Timmons, president, NAM. “This systematic approach is a terrific example of what we can accomplish when job creators and educators come together. These certified training programs build the skills valued by potential employers, and those who complete the certification have access to higher paying jobs.”
The Manufacturing Skills Certification System is managed by the Institute and the certification partners that comprise the System are ACT, the American Welding Society, the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council, the National Institute of Metalworking Skills, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, International Society of Automation, the Packaging Machinery Manufacturing Institute, the International Fluid Power Society, the National Center for Construction Education and Research, the American Society for Quality, the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association, International; APICS The Association for Operations Management, the American Society of Transportation and Logistics, and the North American Die Casting Association.
"Manufacturers look at their workforce as a business investment: mobile, technology-savvy, creative employees greatly enhance the value stream." said Ron Bullock, chairman of Bison Gear and Engineering in St. Charles, IL, and Chairman of The Manufacturing Institute's Board of Trustees. "That's why we maintain two balance sheets - one financial and one human capital - to develop and manage workforce talent as a business asset. The nationally portable, industry-recognized credentialing system is a critical tool to ensure community colleges can graduate students with the skills needed in manufacturing workplaces."
About The Manufacturing Institute
The Manufacturing Institute (the Institute) is the 501 (c) 3 affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers. As a non-partisan organization, the Institute is committed to delivering leading-edge information and services to the nation's manufacturers. The Institute focuses on developing human capital strategies through education reform and workforce development, conducting applied research to provide critical information to public policy makers on challenges and opportunities for today's industry, and advancing the innovation capacity of manufacturers operating in a global market. Visit www.themanufacturinginstitute.org.
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