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NAM-Endorsed Manufacturing Skills Certification Launches

The Manufacturing Institute Announcement

Innovative Skills Certification System Launches

March 4, 2009, Washington, DC

The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and The Manufacturing Institute launched a new NAM-Endorsed Manufacturing Skills Certification System that "will revolutionize education and training for the 21st century manufacturing workforce," according to NAM President and CEO John Engler.

Governor Engler was joined by leaders from industry, education, workforce development, and skills standards partners to announce a ground-breaking skills certification system that will help new and transitioning workers prepare for good jobs in the manufacturing economy.

The new system of skills certifications maps to both career pathways across the manufacturing economy and to educational pathways in postsecondary education. These pathways will be deployed through community colleges to provide students and transitioning workers with industry-recognized skills certifications that are educational credentials with real value in the workplace.

Don McCabe, Senior Vice President of Manufacturing and Performance Excellence at Corning, Inc. discusses the importance of talent development for manufacturers and the contribution the NAM-Endorsed Manufacturing Skills Certification System will make to this endeavor.


The first release of the NAM system focuses on core or basic personal effectiveness skills, academic competencies, general workplace skills, and industry-wide technical skills required by employers in all sectors of manufacturing.

To assure workers have the basic academic and general workplace skills, the NAM system is grounded on the ACT National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC). The NCRC will assure manufacturers that individuals who choose to enter the workforce immediately after high school or postsecondary education have the core academic and workplace competencies for employment.

Entry-level manufacturing careers across all sectors require foundational competencies in health and safety, quality assurance and continual improvement, manufacturing process, development and design, production and supply chain logistics. The NAM system includes: for entry level production workers, Manufacturing Skill Standards Council's Certified Production Technician (CPT); for metal-working, the National Institute for Metal Working Skills' machining credentials; and for welding, the American Welding Society's Certified Welder credentials.

To meet our national need for the next generation of practitioners, the NAM system incorporates the certification programs of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers.