Why MSSC Skill Standards?
As changes in technology, manufacturing processes and management practices continue into the 21 st century, a skilled and knowledgeable workforce will be our most critical competitive advantage. Changes in manufacturing have seen “high volume” replaced by “high performance” and “high value-added” in the global marketplace. Employers will be looking for additional high-skilled workers who work smarter, not just harder. In the past, manufacturers operated internal labor markets to recruit and prepare workers for long-term, stable, good paying jobs. Some employers relied on schools and vocational training programs to prepare workers for high skilled jobs, but the vast majority of manufacturing workers gained their skills on-the-job or through employer or union sponsored training that was rarely recognized outside a single firm. This approach suited everyone’s needs for a very long time. But manufacturing has changed. Jobs are more complicated and require more skill. Because most manufactu
