Community Update   
 January 2013 
News From MSSC

College Credit for MSSC Modules!

Neil Reddy, Executive Director of Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) recently announced that the Certified Production Technician (CPT) and Certified Logistics Technician (CLT) Modules received college credit recommendations from the National College Credit Recommendation Service (National CCRS). A total of eighteen semester hours in the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category were recommended.  Click here for more information.

Manufacturing Matters

The Top Five Manufacturing Trends of 2012 

 

American manufacturing was in the spotlight for much of 2012.  From members of the media and political pundits/candidates to educators and the "man on the street", everybody was talking about U.S. manufacturing. This renewed interest in the US manufacturing sector is because the industry is leading the way in the recovery of the US economy. According to the latest employment report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics; there are nearly 12 million jobs in manufacturing. Furthermore, the Bureau of Economic Analysis reports that U.S. manufacturing supports 12 percent of our GDP, producing more than $1.7 trillion of value each year. This is the highest level for manufacturing since 2007. (*)

Here are the most notable manufacturing themes of 2012.   

1)     Exporting

Exporting provides opportunities to expand the sales of U.S. manufacturing industries, resulting in potentially greater revenues for U.S. companies and higher employment for U.S. workers. To learn more about the link between exporting and the economic stability of the U.S. manufacturing sector, click here.

2)     Re-shoring

In the current phase of globalization, some high-skill manufacturing jobs are drifting back to the U.S. While services remains America's strength, local U.S-based production is gaining ground on account of varied factors such as a weaker dollar, cheap energy at home, rampant corruption in developing countries and rising wages in China. For Full article, click here.

3)     Made in America

Given a choice between a product made in the U.S. and an identical one made abroad, 78 percent of Americans would rather buy the American product, according to a new nationally representative survey by the Consumer Reports National Research Center.  Read Consumer Reports Article here.

4)     Innovation

While macroeconomic uncertainties still abound, global manufacturers are using the low-growth environment to ramp up their innovation activity, increase efficiency, and add value to their offerings simultaneously. KPMG's new report, Global Manufacturing Outlook: Fostering Growth through Innovation, examines an industry experiencing transformational shifts and the strategies manufacturing leaders are using to adapt to ongoing volatility, drive innovation, and position themselves for both top and bottom-line growth.  To download KPMG's report, click here.

 5) Additive Manufacturing

Additive manufacturing, sometimes referred to as 3D printing, is the process of making three dimensional, solid objects from a digital model. This process will help America serve as a high-tech manufacturing hub of the world for years to come. Keep your eyes open for developments in this field. To learn more about additive manufacturing, click here.

 
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Editor's Note
MSSC Courses were developed in strict adherence to the industry-recognized, nationally validated standards upon which the Certified Production Technician (CPT) is based. These Courses have a proven track record of success in teaching the knowledge and skills identified in the national standards. MSSC Courses are highly interactive and utilize state-of-the-art, computer-based, simulation e-learning technologies and are delivered by MSSC-Authorized Instructors.  MSSC does not review or endorse any other courses or curricula. MSSC does not require that individuals take MSSC Courses or any other MSSC-related courses before taking an MSSC Assessment