Indiana educators receive certification to teach manufacturing to high school students

The Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) and Conexus Indiana have partnered to train teachers to deliver the first statewide national certification program through their Hire Tech curriculum.

By Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC), Conexus Indiana August 6, 2017

The Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) and Conexus Indiana recently completed an intensive training program for 85 Indiana teachers to deliver the first-ever national advanced manufacturing certification program for high school students.

Conexus Indiana delivers MSSC Safety and Quality content through Hire Tech, a 2-year turn-key high school curriculum that offers students Ivy Tech Community College dual credits toward a degree following high school graduation, and national industry credentials that will help them enter an advanced manufacturing and logistics career after high school. Conexus Indiana’s partnership with MSSC marks the first statewide implementation of MSSC Safety and MSSC Quality Practices and Measurement content for high school students.

“Manufacturing executives have argued for decades, and still argue, that they need more workers with deeper technical and creative problem-solving skills to be competitive in global markets,” said Leo Reddy, who leads MSSC to bolster the nation’s economic competitiveness. “While we’ve made progress over the years, much more work needs to be done.”

“Skilled talent is at the heart of our mission to maintain a leadership position in the design and manufacture of diesel and alternative fuel engines,” said Stan Woszczynski, vice president, chief manufacturing officer, Cummins, Inc. “We employ more than 55,000 people around the world and hire employees with many different skill sets. Employees with industry-recognized credentials, including those with MSSC certifications, help us deliver on our promise of innovation, and these employees have a strong foundation to successfully build a career at Cummins.” 

Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) 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. The nationwide MSSC System, based upon industry-defined and federally endorsed standards, offers both entry-level and incumbent workers the opportunity to demonstrate that they have acquired the skills increasingly needed in the technology-intensive jobs of the 21st century.  

MSSC Safety and Quality content is offered to students through Hire Tech at more than 200 Indiana high schools. Students who successfully complete MSSC’s Certified Production Technician Safety exam and MSSC’s Certified Production Technician Quality exam hold a level of safety and quality sufficient to begin a middle-skill career in the advanced manufacturing industry. 

“With one out of 5 Hoosiers working in manufacturing and the state’s manufacturing sector continuing to grow, Indiana has focused much of its workforce efforts on preparing the next generation of advanced manufacturing talent,” said Claudia Cummings, vice president of Conexus Indiana Workforce and Strategic Initiatives. “Conexus Indiana, through its industry, education and government partners, developed Hire Tech and forged a successful partnership with MSSC to ensure Indiana students can succeed in industry careers.”

– Edited by Hannah Cox, content specialist, CFE Media, hcox@cfemedia.com.