ACT Ready for Work
Podcast Episode 5

Manufacturing Career Pathways
 

Guest Neil Reddy, CEO of the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC), shares how MSSC blazed the trail and created the gold standard for manufacturing skills. From career pathways to stackable credentials, the future of manufacturing is bright.

Born out of the National Skill Standards Act of 1994, MSSC set out to create industry standards to develop certifications across multiple sectors. After working closely with over 4,000 front-line technicians from 700 different companies and 300 subject matter experts, MSSC developed a nationwide system of industry-led standards, assessments, and certifications for all sectors of manufacturing.  

To this day, the MSSC Certified Production Technician (CPT) standards are considered the most authoritative set of industry-wide, core competencies in the country. This episode covers the history of developing the standards, addresses the ways in which businesses can use them as a foundation, and how workforce developers can use them to build short- and long-term talent pipelines. 

Neil answers the questions you want to know:  

  • How can MSSC CPT standards stack with other credentials, such as the ACT® WorkKeys® National Career Readiness Certificate® (NCRC®)?  
  • Do employers realize any benefit from the standards?  
  • What are the different career pathways that individuals can pursue after earning the CPT certification?  
  • What is the future of manufacturing? 

Listen to Episode 5 to hear Neil’s predictions for the bright future of manufacturing and to help minimize the manufacturing skills gap at your company or in your community. 
 

Download Show Notes
“If you look at advancements in technology and learning and training, we have nothing but to look forward in terms of the future [of manufacturing].” 

- Neil Reddy 

Join the Conversation

Manufacturing Skill Standards Council: @MSSCCredentials

Jasen Jones: @JasenCJones

ACT Twitter: @act

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Neil Reddy

About Neil Reddy

As Executive Director for the Manufacturing Skills Standards Council, Neil Reddy manages industry-led training, assessment and certification system based on industry-defined and federally endorsed national standards.  Under Neil’s leadership since 2006, the nationwide MSSC System is considered the gold standard for front-line industrial training. It has 730 authorized assessment centers in 44 states and more than 1350 MSSC-certified instructors.  MSSC has issued more than 62,000 credentials focused on the core skills and knowledge needed by the nation’s front-line production and material-handling workers.