The Manufacturing Institute Launches National Skills Certification System

The Manufacturing Institute, the education and workforce affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), has launched a national initiative to integrate the worker credentials needed by industry into post-secondary degree programs offered in community colleges. Through support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the NAM-Endorsed Manufacturing Skills Certification System will prepare students, particularly low-income young adults and transitioning workers, with entry-level skills necessary to succeed in advanced manufacturing careers.

Post-secondary credentials have become a fundamental prerequisite for economic success. Research supports that adults 25 and older with at least an associate’s degree have an average earnings 30% higher than those of high school graduates with an additional educational credentials.

“We need to engage kids in learning and we need to give them options,” said NAM President John Engler. “Moving industry-recognized skills certifications into community college programs will provide meaningful, relevant education for students and ultimately produce a more highly skilled and mobile workforce – making us more competitive in the global economy.

The NAM-Endorsed System initially focuses on the core, basic skills required for entry-level workers in all sectors of manufacturing, and addresses personal effectiveness competencies, foundational academic competencies, general workplace skills and industry-wide technical skills. Entry-level science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills are included in the system.

The NAM system organizes individual certification programs designed and validated by ACT (National Readiness Certificate), the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC); the American Welding Society (AWS), the National Institute of Metalworking Skills (NIMS) and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) into a national structure creating scalable educational pathways with “stackable” credentials leading to an associates degree.

Four community colleges (Shoreline in Washington, Forsythe Technical in North Carolina, Alamo in Texas and Lorain in Ohio) are the first to begin implementation. For more information go to NAM Certification System.