ATLANTA, June 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — On June 16, an Executive Briefing, entitled, "Use of Industry Certifications to Begin Career Pathways in Advanced Manufacturing and Logistics in the Southern States," attracted a sold-out audience of some 250 senior representatives of industry and education leaders from the 16-state Southern Region. Co-hosted by the nationwide, industry-led Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) and ACT, Inc., and organized in collaboration with the Southern Governors Association and the Southern Regional Education Board, the meeting showcased examples of MSSC use, often in collaboration with ACT, throughout the Region. Please see the enclosed MSSC Executive Briefing Program.
The industry-led, non-profit MSSC is the national leader defining and certifying the core technical competencies that underpin front-line jobs in all sectors of manufacturing and logistics. Based upon MSSC's national leadership since 1998 in defining the industry skill standards for this large workforce, MSSC offers the Certified Production Technician (CPT) and Certified Logistics Technician (CLT) certifications. It delivers the related training and testing through a network of 1570 MSSC-trained Instructors and 925 MSSC-authorized Assessment Centers in 49 states.
Noting that MSSC is the only national certification to be accredited under the globally respected ISO Standard 17024 (Personnel Certification) for both manufacturing and logistics, MSSC CEO Leo Reddy stated, "the growing use of MSSC Certifications throughout the South will strengthen this region's ability and reputation for attracting investment by many of the world's leading corporations. The many examples of MSSC at the Executive Briefing included examples of MSSC engagement with many of these companies, including Lockheed Martin, Toyota, Harley Davidson, GE Appliances, BMW, BASF, Ford, Pace, Dupont, and Hillwood Alliance Global Logistics Hubs.
Steve Boecking, Vice President at Hillwood and MSSC Board Member, moderated the June 16 Executive Briefing. In his opening remarks, he observed, "This region-wide use of MSSC's CPT and CLT certifications is an outstanding example of how well-established, standards-based, industry-recognized national certifications provide a common, industry-based foundation upon which states, companies and schools can build workforce development programs customized to meet their own specific needs."
Kevin Houchin, Esq., National Programs Office of ACT, Inc. commented, "Our data demonstrate that students who score at the Silver Level in the ACT National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) exam perform substantially better in the high-stakes MSSC certification assessments. These certifications provide outstanding opportunities for high school students to secure employment or gain dual credits toward postsecondary education."
The keynote address at this Executive Briefing was provided by Harry Moser, Founder and President of the Reshoring Initiative, and renowned authority on factors that shape corporate plant location decisions. Mr. Moser stated, "The availability of a higher skilled production workforce has become one of the top influences on location decisions both by U.S.-owned companies considering reshoring and foreign direct investors. If states and regions can document that they are using well-known industry certifications such as MSSC and NIMS to certify their workers, it will only enhance their attractiveness to domestic and foreign investors."
The Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC), a 501(c)3 non-profit, is an industry-led, training, assessment and certification system focused on the core skills and knowledge needed by the nation's front-line production and material handling workers. For details, see www.msscusa.org.
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