The NAM partnered with the Atlantic today to host the New Work Era forum at the Newseum in Washington, D.C.  The event featured Manufacturing Institute President Emily DeRocco as well as NAM members Nick Pinchuk, Chair and CEO of Snap-On Inc.; Bob Corteau, President, SAP North America; and Mike Morris, Chair and CEO of American Electric Power Company, Inc.  They joined Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, AOL co-founder Steve Case, Senator Mark Warner, and others in the day’s discussion about how to close the skills gap and create jobs in America.

You can watch the day’s events here.

Here are some photos of the event (courtesy of The Atlantic/GE Gargallo Photography)

From left to right: Amanda Ripley, Contributor, The Atlantic; Emily DeRocco, President, The Manufacturing Institute; John Sexton, President, New York University; Bob Courteau, President, SAP North America; Bob Templin, President, Northern Virginia Community College; Laszlo Bock, Senior VP, People Operations, Google

From left to right: Steve Clemons, Editor in Chief, AtlanticLIVE; Byron Auguste, Director, Social Sector Office, McKinsey & Company; Mike Morris, Chair and CEO, American Electric Power Company, Inc.; Jeff Joerres, Chair, CEO and Presiden,t ManpowerGroup (SIC); Nick Pinchuk, Chair and CEO, Snap-on Incorporated; Frits van Paasschen, President and Chief Executive Officer, STARWOOD HOTELS & RESORTS WORLDWIDE INC.

From left to right: Amanda Ripley, Contributor, The Atlantic; Emily DeRocco, President, The Manufacturing Institute; John Sexton, President, New York University; Bob Courteau, President, SAP North America; Bob Templin, President, Northern Virginia Community College; Laszlo Bock, Senior VP, People Operations, Google

From left to right: Steve Clemons, Editor in Chief, AtlanticLIVE; Byron Auguste, Director, Social Sector Office, McKinsey & Company; Mike Morris, Chair and CEO, American Electric Power Company, Inc.; Jeff Joerres, Chair, CEO and Presiden,t ManpowerGroup (SIC); Nick Pinchuk, Chair and CEO, Snap-on Incorporated; Frits van Paasschen, President and Chief Executive Officer, STARWOOD HOTELS & RESORTS WORLDWIDE INC.

Nick Pinchuk, Chair and CEO, Snap-on Incorporated

From left to right: Neil Kerwin, President, American University; Mike Morris, Chairman and CEO, American Electric Power Company

I had the opportunity to be with President Obama today at an event at the Northern Virginia Community College where he announced a new initiative and key steps toward building an educated and skilled workforce in manufacturing.  The President particularly highlighted The Manufacturing Institute’s NAM-endorsed Skills Certification System as a national solution.  There were several NAM board members in attendance with me and it was a great event.

I did take the opportunity to talk briefly with the President and I not only thanked him for the event but also told him we needed to work together on the regulatory review process.  I expressed my concerns over many of the regulations coming out of EPA and their impact on manufacturing. The President noted that the administration wants to ensure that benefits outweigh the cost of regulations.  Our hope at the NAM is that we will see concrete action to curtail the over regulation from many agencies, especially the EPA.  It truly was a great day for manufacturing and I very much appreciate the President’s priority to this issue.

News coverage of the event:

New York Times: “Obama Talks Up Job Training”
Chronicle of Higher Education: “Obama to Unveil New Credentialing System During Visit to Community College”
Industry Week: “Industry Applauds National Attention on Manufacturing Workforce Development”
The Hill: “White House, industry expand programs to educate, train workers”
Bloomberg: “Obama Says Community College Training Can Help Fill Jobs Gap”
UPI: “Obama launches job-training partnership”

From The Manufacturing Institute, “The Manufacturing Institute Releases Roadmap for Education Reform for Manufacturing“:

March 31, 2011, Washington, DC—The Manufacturing Institute (the Institute), the non-profit affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), has released a comprehensive blueprint for education reform designed to develop the 21^st century talent critical to U.S. manufacturing and global competitiveness. 

The Roadmap to Education Reform for Manufacturing lays out six principles for innovative reform, including moving to competency-based education; establishing and expanding industry-education partnerships; infusing technology in education; creating excitement for manufacturing careers; applying manufacturing principles like “lean” to reduce education costs; and, expanding successful youth development programs.

“These principles can and should be readily applied in current federal and state legislative and budget deliberations,” said Emily DeRocco, president, The Manufacturing Institute.  “Building an educated and skilled workforce is one of the most significant actions we can take to ensure U.S. leadership in manufacturing.”

The full report is available here for download.

Workforce training was also a major theme of The FABRICATOR(r)’s Leadership Summit, 6th Annual Metal Matters and FMA’s 15th Annual Toll Processing Conference, held in March in Orlando. From Canadian Industrial Equipment News, “U.S. Manufacturing Can Return to Global Leadership Status, Keynoters Tell FMA Annual Conferences“:

“Major deficits in our education system hamper U.S. competitiveness on the world stage,” DeRocco said. “Our global competitors continue to surpass our education system in producing a high-volume, high-quality technical workforce.”

DeRocco issued a call to action that stressed, “Manufacturers can’t wait for the education system to reform itself.” Instead, she said, the sector must take the lead and expand industry-education partnerships to infuse technology in curricula, apply manufacturing principles in educational institutions and produce industry-based skills certifications

Here’s a selection of coverage of President Obama’s visit to Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston-Salem, N.C., on Monday, starting with the hometown paper. As we blogged yesterday, Forsyth Tech and the Manfacturing Institute are working together on several educational and training fronts, and the President’s visit highlighted important issues and an excellent institution. 

Winston-Salem Journal, “Obama seeks revival of ‘Made in America’ Forsyth Tech an example of what can help, he says“: 

With images of Forsyth Technical Community College’s cutting-edge biotech equipment fresh in his mind, President Obama called yesterday for a new “Sputnik moment” that will re-establish the United States as the global leader in education, innovation and infrastructure. 

“We need to do what America has always been known for — building, innovating, educating, making things,” Obama said to an audience of 350 people at Forsyth Tech’s west campus. “We don’t want to be a nation that simply buys and consumes products from other countries. We want to create and sell products all over the world that are stamped with three simple words: Made in America.” 

WXII12.com, “President’s Visit Shines Light On Forsyth Tech“ 

Almost 11,000 students are enrolled at the school, which claims the largest biotechnology degree program of any community college in the state. 

One of the students, Katy Proctor, told Obama that she came to FTCC after spending 30 years in the furniture industry. Proctor said she is the mother of young children and wants to inspire them to pursue their dreams. (continue reading…)

The Manufacturing Institute and the National Association of Manufacturers today are hosting the National Manufacturing Talent Development Roundtable here in Washington. There are so many good speakers from manufacturing, education, workforce training and the foundation world that the ideas are flowing fast and furious.

John Engler (right) speaks as Steven Ruffa, Lean Dynamics Research, looks on.

But as NAM President John Engler pointed out in his opening remarks, the real key is action, doing. After all, in today’s competitive world, for manufacturers it’s do-or-die. And it’s up to us.

In an exchange with Grant Aldonas of Split Rock International, who moderated today’s discussions, Engler observed:

I think the strength of the individuals in the room today is that there is almost no one here who believes that the answer is in Washington. This is really something that will be done locally, in communities around the country.

It’s very important to take one lesson from manufacturing as we go forward, and that is, we’ve got to replicate our best practices as we find them. We’ve got to publicize them and replicate them quickly because there’s so much payoff if we can get everybody the best available practice. That doesn’t take a lot of research. That means you’ve got to replicate what my neighbor is doing, or what the person over there is doing.

The Chinese can’t stop us from doing this. The Indians can’t stop us from doing this. The EU can’t stop us. This is all on us. The Chinese did not set up our workforce system and undercut our trading system. That’s on us. It’s up to us. We can do it or not, and we have to step up here. … (continue reading…)

National Public Radio has been running a solid series this week on the economy, especially the obstacles to recovery, with Tuesday’s report focusing on shortage of skilled employees who can fill the (darn good) jobs in high-tech manufacturing. From All Things Considered, “To Fill Job Skills, Firm Brings Training In House“:

Some people might think that working in a metal-parts factory would mean wearing greasy overalls and laboring in a dimly lit and potentially dangerous place. “People have an image of a dark, smoky factory with a dirt floor with metal parts flying everywhere,” says Carl Pasciuto, president of the Custom Group, a manufacturing company outside Boston.

In reality, today’s advanced manufacturing facilities like Custom Group’s factory look more like well-lit, clean airplane hangars full of super-high-tech equipment.

“There’s probably $2 million worth of machines in your eyeshot right here,” Pasciuto says from a corner of the factory floor. “That’s what’s necessary to survive.”

Countering that image has been one of tasks of the NAM’s Manufacturing Institute through partnerships with local companies, educational institutions, and worforce development groups in the Institute’s “Dream It Do It” campaign. The program continues its steady growth nationally. The latest effort was announced in October in Carson City, Nev.:

The Manufacturing Institute and the Northern Nevada Development Authority announced the deployment of a national initiative to revitalize Nevada’s workforce and economy.  Developed by the Institute in 2005, Dream It. Do It. uses cutting-edge marketing to inform students, transitioning workers and military servicemen and women about exciting career opportunities in manufacturing and other key sectors to our community such as construction, healthcare, mining, renewable energy, public service and many others. 

From RSM McGladrey’s news release, “Bison Gear Chairman, Ron Bullock, Receives RSM McGladrey 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award“:

Ron is dedicated to improving educational opportunities and skills training in the United States, and he currently serves as vice chairman of the Manufacturing Institute. He has long been active in the National Association of Manufacturers, having served as vice chairman and continuing to serve on the NAM’s Board of Directors.

He also served through 2009 as chairman of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association.

As for Bison Gear and Engineering Corp.: “Celebrating its 50th Anniversary, Bison Gear & Engineering Corp. designs and manufactures fractional horsepower electric motors, gearmotors and gear reducers used in industrial and commercial OEM applications worldwide.”

Congratulations!

Crossposted from Compete America, “Making a Commitment to U.S. Education and Workforce Development“:

As a member of Compete America, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) supports the retention of highly educated, foreign-born talent for the advancement of America’s 21st century workforce. Equally important, the Manufacturers, along with all Compete America members, are dedicated to encouraging the development of “home grown” talent so the United States can compete in the 21st century economy.

Our country is experiencing a deficit of American students and workers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields. According to the National Science Board’s Science and Engineering Indicators 2010, about five percent of all bachelor’s degrees are in engineering in the United States, compared to 20 percent in Asia and about one-third in China. If we want to compete in the new global economy, a crucial step will be generating more domestic talent for these in-demand careers. We and the members of Compete America are doing something about that. (continue reading…)

George R. Boggs, president and CEO of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), prepared a briefing paper for the White House Summit on Community Colleges, “Democracy’s Colleges: The Evolution of the Community College in America.”

Page 10 is headed, “A Skilled Workforce Is Key to Economic Recovery and Future Competitiveness.” Excerpt:

The current economic recession has underscored the essential role that community colleges play in preparing the nation’s workforce. As the economy faltered, community college enrollment surged by close to 17% nationwide between fall 2007 and fall 2009, comprising both new high school graduates seeking affordable entry into college and adult learners looking for training to allow them to keep their jobs or move into new careers. In communities where whole industries have been lose through plant closures, community colleges have focused on intensive customized services and classes for displaced workers. Colleges have developed partnerships and training alternative to help resuscitate their communities. The rise in student numbers, while shrinking revenues force state and local policymakers to reduce support colleges, presents a need for large and small colleges to do more with less. (continue reading…)

One bill that should definitely not be overlooked among the 85 measures on today’s House suspension calendar is H.R.4072, the AMERICA Works Act. In fact, this bill stands out for embracing an important approach toward training that offers opportunities both to manufacturers and manufacturing employees.

Each year the federal government invests billions of dollars in workforce training programs with a limited impact. This bill responds by giving priority to education and training funds that lead toward skills credentials that offer real value in the workplace for both workers and employers. The legislation also recognizes the need for a strong technical workforce in America and the value of industry-recognized, nationally portable credentials such as the NAM-Endorsed Manufacturing Skills Certification System developed by The Manufacturing Institute.

Employers rely on workers with the right skills to drive innovation, productivity and global competitiveness. As manufacturers continue to lead the economic recovery and job creation in the United States, they need a skilled workforce. The Manufacturing Skills Certification System provides new and transitioning workers a clear pathway to in-demand skills so they can prepare for good, high-paying jobs in manufacturing. We urge the House to pass this legislation and the Senate to act quickly on this important legislation.

More …

Introductory statement by Rep. Walter Minnick (D-ID), Nov. 18, 2009, “Minnick authors major job-training bill,” which included a statement of support from Emily DeRocco, NAM senior vice president and head of the Manufacturing Institute.

In tough economic times with high unemployment and the loss of jobs, it is difficult to focus on workforce-skills development. In reality, we have no better time. True economic reform means not only righting our economic ship, but also pursuing the strategies that will ensure we maintain our manufacturing competitiveness and provide the best possible pathways to employment in high-quality, middle-class jobs for all workers. We commend Congressman Minnick and his colleagues for introducing this bill, which will help ensure both new and transitioning workers have the education and skills necessary to succeed in the 21st century manufacturing economy.