WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 8, 2011 - NAM is partnering with Futures Inc, creators of the Pipeline career-development and job-connection platform, to address the rapidly growing demand for highly skilled talent by US advanced manufacturers.

President Obama hosted an event today with The Manufacturing Institute and the National Association of Manufacturers highlighting key steps towards building the educated and skilled workforce U.S. manufacturers need to successfully compete in the 21st century economy.  One of the national solutions discussed by the President was The Manufacturing Institute's NAM-Endorsed Manufacturing Skills Certification System.

President Obama said that the partnership will put in the hands of students “a new resource on the Internet so workers can sign on and see what jobs their skill sets allow them to access all across America.”

This system provides stackable credentials applicable to all sectors in the manufacturing industry. These nationally portable, industry-recognized credentials validate both the “book smarts” and the “street smarts” needed to be productive and successful in entry-level positions in any manufacturing environment.

NAM has selected Pipeline to be their National Platform and will be providing manufacturing credentials through Pipeline.

Geoff Cramer, CEO, Futures Inc said that “We are honored that US Manufacturing Committee and NAM has selected us to be the National platform for providing key manufacturing credentials though Pipeline”.

This program will be piloted in the community colleges of 17 selected states with the focus of strengthening the manufacturing workforce. The partnership with Futures Inc will leverage the holistic model and power of the Pipeline talent management as an ideal delivery vehicle. This targeted connection between promising candidates and relevant manufacturing education will allow NAM and Futures Inc to quickly grow the Manufacturing Skills Certification Program nationwide.

Pipeline is a multi-media, collaborative career-path and job-resource center designed to help people find the right career, bridge skills gaps, prepare for success, and connect with a great job. Pipeline is already being put to use to ensure our transitioning military men and women have the best tools available to connect them with a great civilian job. Now, as part of this NAM initiative, Pipeline will deliver the right manufacturing credential opportunities to the right people at the right time.

"In this highly competitive global market, our manufacturers' business success is tied directly to their ability to innovate, and the single most important factor in their innovation capacity is an educated and skilled workforce," says Emily Stover DeRocco, President of The Manufacturing Institute.  "We know that most manufacturing jobs today require skills learned beyond high school, primarily in community colleges.  And we now have a system of Manufacturing Skills Certifications - standards of learning - that are being integrated into community college programs of study."   The President remarked that strong partnerships between manufacturers and community colleges to make these manufacturing credentials available nationwide supports the goal of providing 500,000 more skilled workers for the manufacturing industry within the next 5 years.

The advanced manufacturing landscape demands a smart, safe, and sustainable manufacturing workforce that can leverage the latest technology infusion to maintain high productivity. The NAM-Endorsed Manufacturing Skills Certification System addresses the gaps in manufacturing education and training, which are limiting the pool of qualified candidates for high-demand manufacturing jobs.