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 MSSC NEWS
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Summary Report: MSSC Executive Briefing in Atlanta, June 16, 2016
On June 16th in Atlanta, the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) and ACT, Inc., in collaboration with The Southern Governors Association and the Southern Regional Education Board, co-hosted an Executive Briefing,
"Use of Industry Certifications to Begin Career Pathways in Advanced Manufacturing and Logistics in the Southern States."
This meeting showcased examples of how all states in the 16-state Southern Region are using the MSSC Certified Production Technician (CPT) and Certified Logistics Technician (CLT) training and certification programs, often in concert with ACT's National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) program, in a wide variety of ways. Most importantly, these examples illustrate the success of using well-established, industry-recognized, national, stackable credentials as a solid foundation upon which states, companies and schools can build their own customized solutions to meeting workforce skill needs.
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MSSC increasingly active in secondary schools
 MSSC has been steadily growing its high school CPT and CLT programs in recent years, many of which involve articulation agreements to provide college credit to high schoolers who secure MSSC credentials. The most striking example is the state of Florida that gives 15 community college credits to high school students who successfully complete the full
Certified Production Technician (CPT) Program.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is also assisting in this groundbreaking initiative.
Please click here for some examples of MSSC's most successful
High School CPT programs.
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| POLICY NEWS |
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Texas State Agency reinforces value of MSSC standards
 At its June meeting, the Texas Workforce Investment Council (TWIC) unanimously recognized the 2015 Edition of MSSC's Manufacturing Production and Logistics Standards.
According to Leo Reddy, MSSC CEO, "This new approval by the prestigious TWIC is fresh testimony to MSSC's continued role as the nation's 'Gold Standard' for industry-defined skill standards for front-line work in advanced manufacturing and logistics."
MSSC keeps its Production and Logistics Standards current through annual reviews by panels of industry subject matter experts to ensure that the are keeping pace with technological change. For example, the 2015 edition reflects MSSC studies of emerging technologies to assess their likely impact on manufacturing and TDL processes on the nation's factory floors, warehouses and distribution centers.
The 2015 Edition of the MSSC Production and Logistics Standards are available without charge at
http://www.msscusa.org/2015-standards/
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Carl D. Perkins CTE Act approved by House Education and Workforce Committee
 On June 7th, the
House Education and Workforce Committee approved H.R. 5587, the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act by a unanimous recorded vote of 37-0. It is important to note unanimous support from both parties for this bill--much as the WIOA bill had almost unanimous bipartisan support. These votes substantiate the case that workforce development in one topic on which there is bipartisan agreement.
This bill was introduced by Reps. Glenn Thompson (R-PA), Katherine Clark (D-MA), Carlos Curbello (R-FL), Jim Langevin (D-RI) and Rick Nolan (D-MN) and would reauthorize the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006.
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Armed forces are combating the skills gap for front-line logistics workforce
According to MSSC Chairman and CEO, Leo Reddy, "Like other technology - intensive sectors of the economy, the transportation, distribution and logistics (TDL) sector is facing a growing shortage of skilled workers." In an article published in MMH in June, Mr. Reddy writes that, "industry association
MHI reports that the supply chain industry will need to fill about 1.4 million new jobs between 2014 and 2018-roughly 270,000 new jobs a year. With an increase in baby boomer retirements and the persistent failure of the nation's schools to produce a sufficient number of skilled technicians, the well-documented "skills gap" is only widening.
"The Pentagon is coming to our rescue. The services, especially the Army, are now producing a generation of veterans who have secured-while in the military-the leading national industry certification for the front-line materials handling and distribution workforce. These industry-recognized, nationally portable credentials are offered by the MSSC: Certified Logistics Associate (CLA) and Certified Logistics Technician (CLT).
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| NEWS FROM THE MSSC COMMUNITY |
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Chester County High Schools in TN see CPT as a positive track for students
Troy Kilzer, II, Chester County Director of Schools shared a recent testimony regarding the CPT program at Chester Co. High School. Mr. Kilzer said,
"In Chester County, our most valuable resources are our people. One of my initial goals when I was selected to serve as Director of Schools was to equip all Chester County students, as productive citizens, with skills to develop a larger labor force locally with exceptional employment skills and increase the opportunities for Chester County to attract manufacturing/industries to locate in this community. The
Certified Production Technician coursework has been a positive track for building employment skills with our students in current, local industries.
Two years ago, I had been approached by a local industry leader asking for a partnership with our school to provide a consistent pipeline of viable employees to replace those on staff that were reaching retirement age. The CPT Coursework platform provides relevant and rigorous coursework that is personalized for students' needs and aligns with our local industry needs. Students who complete the modules at the high school level can continue their full certification coursework at Colleges of Technology within months of starting and be 'tuition-free.' Two recent high school graduates who completed their CPT coursework were offered 'career' opportunities only days after graduation. These serve as the best testimonies for the success that our students can realize with the CPT coursework. This is the vehicle that our district will use to provide the trajectory for continued investment into our best resource- our students and their economic security."
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Michigan's Advanced Manufacturing workforce at its highest level since 2006
According to Detroit Premier Business Journal, "with nearly 700,000 workers employed in Michigan, last year marked the highest level of employment growth in the state's advanced manufacturing industry," says a new report by Lightweight Innovations For Tomorrow (LIFT) and the Workforce Intelligence Network in Detroit. Furthermore, the top five advanced manufacturing positions sought in Michigan job postings in the first quarter included: general maintenance and repair workers; laborers and freight, stock and material movers; mechanical engineers; electrical engineers; and production workers.
The organization says that this is the state's highest advanced manufacturing employment number since 2006, and a nearly 30 percent increase from the middle of the Great Recession in 2009.
"Manufacturing demand and employment in Michigan continue to rise as the economy improves and employers expand operations here," says Elliot Forsyth, a member of the Michigan LIFT State Team.
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Polk State and partners win federal grant to train inmates for mfg. jobs
The U.S. Department of Labor recently announced that the Polk Partnership for Industrial Employment, led by Polk State College, has received $2.1 million through the
TechHire grant program, which funds innovative partnerships developed to train low-skilled workers for jobs in high-growth industries.
The primary aim of the Polk Partnership for Industrial Employment is to train inmates for jobs in the advanced manufacturing sector.
To remove the educational barrier, Polk State will conduct on-site training to prepare inmates to attain nationally recognized advanced manufacturing certifications, including the 10-hour OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) General Industry credential; the
Manufacturing Skill Standards Council's Certified Production Technician (MSSC CPT) certification; and the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute's Mechanical Components 1 (PMMI MC1) certification. Attaining these certifications will give program participants a competitive edge when applying for entry-level jobs in the advanced manufacturing industry
Please click here for the full
Polk State article.
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Pasco-Hernando State College in FL to offer MSSC CPT training program
The continuing workforce education department at Pasco-Hernando State College will offer a
Manufacturing Skills Standards Council Certified Production Technician (CPT) training program. The 80-hour online course will be offered from 6 to 10 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning Tuesday and will run for 10 weeks.
The program includes courses in four manufacturing modules: safety awareness, production and processes, maintenance awareness and quality assurance. Certificates are awarded at the conclusion of each module. The CPT certification is awarded once all four module assessments are passed.
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