Charter for Revitalizing American Manufacturing

While the U.S. maps its strategy for placing manufacturing at the forefront of job creation and development, companies like Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) and Tooling U are working with business, labor, academia, think tanks and other non-profits to create proposals to move manufacturing forward according to an article in MANUFACTURING AND TECHNOLOGY NEWS.

SME and seventeen other organizations including AFL-CIO Industrial Union Council, and Economic Strategy Institute are working to create a core set of values that promote the importance of manufacturing; encourage balanced trade; support the few government programs aimed at improving the health of small- and medium-sized manufacturers; adopt a corporate tax policy with incentives for investment in productive capacity and innovation; promote workforce training; and create guidelines for public procurement of American-made goods.

The 18-body member signed a charter called “Charter for Revitalizing American Manufacturing” and will address why the United Sates has lost more manufacturing capacity over the past decade than any other country. According to economists from the Chicago Federal Reserve Bank, the loss of manufacturing jobs in the U.S. has been as high as 32-percent.

Mark Tomlinson, CEO of the Society of Mfg. Engineers and Tooling U will work with the governing body with the intention to create areas of agreement to make progress and provide solutions for the workforce pain that is occurring in manufacturing organizations in the United States.

Tooling U can partner with your organization and offer solutions for your manufacturing workforce concerns.  We have serviced a number of industries including automotive, aerospace, defense, energy, and medical device manufacturers.  

Have questions? Please contact us: info@toolingu.com


 

Community Colleges Play a Vital Role Filling the Pipeline

President Obama announced in June of 2011 the goal to credential 500,000 community college students with skills certifications.  The Manufacturing Institute’s NAM-Endorsed Manufacturing Skills Certification System was cited as a way to reach the needs of manufacturers and their hiring needs nationwide.

The NAM-Endorsed Manufacturing Skills Certification System is a series of stackable credentials for advanced manufacturing.  These nationally portable, industry-recognized credentials not only validate an individual’s knowledge, but also the relevant skills needed to be productive and successful in entry-level positions in manufacturing.

Community Colleges play a vital role in this training to help fill the pipeline with ready, qualified workers.

With curriculum to prepare students for NIMS, MSSC, AWS and SME certification, SME/ToolingU.com is a valuable partner to align our programs to the NAM certification system.

For any test, preparation is key.  ToolingU.com classes partner with Community Colleges to deliver a blended learning solution to help increase a students’ knowledge and can help prepare them for certification.   While classes cannot guarantee success, the ToolingU.com focused content and online tools can get students’ get started in the right direction.  ToolingU.com has mapped its online training classes to the following nationally recognized training certifications: 

1)    National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) Standards. These standards provide individuals in the machining and metal-forming industries with a way to validate their knowledge and skills in the trade. To become certified in a specific NIMS standard, individuals must meet performance requirements and pass a series of multiple-choice tests.

2)     Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) standards. These standards stem from an industry-led certification program designed to prepare people with the core knowledge needed for entry-level production employment.

To become an MSSC certified production technician, individuals must successfully pass four tests focused on Safety, Quality Practices and Measurement, Manufacturing Processes and Production, and Maintenance Awareness. 

3)     American Welding Society (AWS) SENSE Level 1 standard. This standard is designed to prepare people with the core knowledge and skills required for an entry-level position they can use to start a career in welding.

The core of the AWS SENSE Level 1 standard is the ability to create actual weld samples that pass inspection. However, online training is also an ideal supplement for the knowledge-based component of the certification.

4)    SME Manufacturing Technologist (CMfg T) This certification primarily benefits new manufacturing engineers and experienced manufacturers without other credentials. Pursuing a CMfgT certification requires a minimum of 4 years combined manufacturing-related education and/or work experience.