Community Update

July 2025

Hear from MSSC Leadership on the latest MFG trends and MSSC product developments, and gain actionable insights and best practices from some of our most innovative training partners serving secondary, adult, and opportunity populations. The full program will be released soon but register now to save your spot!

Featured at the ACT 2025 Summit: MSSC CEO Neil Reddy Champions Stackable Credentials and Workforce Readiness

At the 2025 ACT Summit in Nashville earlier this month, MSSC CEO Neil Reddy was a featured speaker, lending his expertise in both a plenary session and a focused breakout session. In the plenary, titled "Ready for College, Ready for Work: Higher Ed and WF Dev in Conversation," Reddy (far right on stage) joined fellow experts in a dynamic conversation about aligning higher education and workforce development to improve learner outcomes and career readiness. He also led a breakout session titled "Advancing Workforce Readiness Through Stackable Credentials," which explored how tiered credentialing models—such as those used in logistics and industrial automation—empower learners to build skills progressively. The session emphasized how combining classroom instruction with hands-on experience supports flexible career pathways, addresses workforce shortages, and enhances economic mobility through targeted, skills-based learning.

By uniting the expertise and focus of workforce professionals, higher education leaders, and K-12 educators, the ACT Summit provided a fitting platform for MSSC to underscore its strong strategic partnership with ACT—built on a shared vision of stackable credentialing. Together, MSSC’s Certified Production Technician (CPT) and Certified Logistics Technician (CLT) programs are aligned with ACT’s National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC®), creating a seamless pathway for learners to acquire both academic and industry-recognized skills. This collaboration empowers individuals to transition more effectively from learning to employment, while also addressing the critical skills gaps faced by modern industry.

Senate Unanimously Passes Legislation to Establish National Manufacturing Advisory Council

In a unanimous vote, the U.S. Senate has passed legislation to establish a National Manufacturing Advisory Council within the U.S. Department of Commerce—a critical development for U.S. manufacturing policy. The bill is designed to elevate federal coordination and responsiveness to the evolving needs of the manufacturing sector, ensuring that America remains a global leader in advanced manufacturing.



The newly created Council would serve as a high-level advisory body, bringing together voices from industry, labor, and education to offer strategic guidance on key challenges and opportunities facing the sector. Its mandate includes analyzing emerging technologies, workforce needs, supply chain vulnerabilities, regulatory challenges, and investment patterns that shape U.S. competitiveness. The bill now moves on to consideration in the House. 

WH Executive Order: "Suspending Duty-Free De Minimis Treatment for All Countries"

On July 30, 2025, President Trump issued an executive order suspending duty-free de minimis treatment for low-value imports from all countries, effective August 29, 2025.

Under the new policy, all non-postal shipments, regardless of value or origin, will be subject to full duties and entry documentation. Postal shipments will also face duties based on the origin country’s tariff rate, with structured rates ranging from $80 to $200 per item, depending on the level of trade restrictions. U.S. Customs and Border Protection will implement new procedures in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) system, and all carriers will be required to comply with updated bonding and duty collection rules. Read the full text here.

Workforce Crisis Threatens Reshoring Momentum

As reshoring continues to gain momentum in response to shifting global trade dynamics and the need for more resilient supply chains, the importance of a skilled manufacturing workforce has never been clearer. Studies from the Reshoring Initiative and other industry leaders show that workforce readiness is one of the most influential factors driving companies to invest in U.S. operations—often surpassing the impact of tariffs or tax incentives. With millions of jobs already returning to American soil, the next step is ensuring we have the talent in place to meet growing demand and seize this opportunity to revitalize domestic manufacturing. Read more here.

ED and DOL Launch Joint Workforce Development Partnership

The U.S. Departments of Education (ED) and Labor (DOL) have announced the implementation of a workforce development partnership to create a more integrated federal education and workforce system. Under this new agreement, DOL will assume a greater role in the administration of adult education and family literacy programs funded under Title II of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), as well as career and technical education (CTE) programs funded by the Carl D. Perkins Act (Perkins V). ED will maintain statutory responsibilities and policy oversight, while both agencies will collaborate on program management.



The partnership, established through an Interagency Agreement, aims to streamline services for states and grantees by aligning administration of Perkins and WIOA programs with those already managed by DOL. This structure is intended to provide unified state planning timelines and a single point of federal contact. According to the agencies, the goal is to reduce duplication, improve coordination, and increase the efficiency of service delivery. Additional guidance for states and program stakeholders will be provided by ED and DOL as implementation continues. Review the Fact Sheet.

Department of Labor and SBA Sign Agreement to Support Manufacturing Workforce

The U.S. Department of Labor and the Small Business Administration have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to increase coordination in support of domestic manufacturing. The agreement outlines collaboration on workforce development and capital access initiatives, including data-sharing between agencies and joint efforts related to Registered Apprenticeships, veteran employment programs, and SBA loan offerings such as the 7(a) and 504 programs.

The agreement is intended to strengthen the pipeline of skilled workers and improve support for small manufacturers, which make up 98% of U.S. manufacturing businesses. The agencies will also conduct cross-training to better align services and enhance outreach to manufacturers and the workforce. Link to News Release and MOU.

NIST Seeks Public Input on Future of Advanced Manufacturing Strategy

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), through the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to gather public input on the next National Strategic Plan for Advanced Manufacturing. The effort, conducted on behalf of the Subcommittee on Advanced Manufacturing under the National Science and Technology Council, seeks insights from industry, academia, and other stakeholders to help shape federal policies, research priorities, and workforce strategies that will enhance U.S. manufacturing competitiveness.

NIST is specifically looking for recommendations related to emerging technologies (e.g., AI, nanotechnology), public-private partnerships, workforce development, domestic supply chain resilience, and ways to support small and mid-sized manufacturers. The feedback will inform updates to the current 2022–2026 plan, which focuses on advancing manufacturing technologies, expanding the workforce, and strengthening supply chains. Comments are due by September 30, 2025. Read the full RFI here.

Manufacturing Prosperity: Insights from the Midwest

A new report from The Century Foundation and the Urban Manufacturing Alliance examines how place-based investments are being used to strengthen manufacturing workforce development in Midwest regions such as Detroit, Chicago, and Northeast Ohio. The Industry and Inclusion initiative supported these efforts by helping local partners implement training models that include wraparound services, employer engagement, and strategies for reaching underrepresented populations. The report outlines case studies from each region and provides policy recommendations for designing workforce programs that align with regional economic goals and promote broader access to quality manufacturing careers.

Unlocking America's Hidden Manufacturing Potential with Shadow Factories

Despite labor shortages and global supply chain complexities, the U.S. remains a $2 trillion manufacturing force. Saar Yoskovitz, CEO of industrial AI firm Augury, argues that the next leap forward lies in tapping into “shadow factories” — underutilized capacity within existing production lines. By deploying AI and automation to optimize machine performance and reduce downtime, manufacturers can boost output without new capital investments.

This approach not only accelerates onshoring efforts but also strengthens the case for reshoring by leveraging America’s leadership in AI innovation. Yoskovitz calls for greater federal investment in workforce training and long-term policy certainty to inspire confidence in domestic manufacturing expansion. With the right technology and talent, the U.S. has the potential to become the world’s leading industrial hub. Read the full Opinion Piece here.

McKinsey Report: Investing in the manufacturing workforce to accelerate productivity

A new McKinsey report highlights the growing urgency for manufacturers to reduce "time to proficiency"—the time it takes for new hires to become fully productive—as a critical lever for boosting output in an era of rising retirements and complex job demands. The report points to a widening gap in skill levels across the workforce, with experienced workers exiting the industry and newer employees struggling to ramp up quickly. In fact, productivity between high- and low-performing workers can vary by up to 800% depending on job complexity, making faster skill development a key competitive advantage.

McKinsey outlines how leading manufacturers are responding with bold, data-driven investments across talent acquisition, training, and performance management. Strategies include creating legacy knowledge libraries, piloting faster onboarding programs, and aligning HR, operations, and engineering teams to deliver measurable ROI. The report urges manufacturers to rethink traditional workforce development approaches and embrace cross-functional, ROI-focused models to stay competitive in the face of ongoing labor shifts. Full report can be accessed here.