SOCMA: Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates

Contact: Jacey Wilkins
The Manufacturing Institute
O: (202) 637-3493
C: (610) 637-2796

Contact:  Christine Sanchez
SOCMA
(202) 721-4182
sanchezc@socma.com
 

WASHINGTON, DC, September 20, 2012— The Manufacturing Institute has partnered with the Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates (SOCMA), a trade association representing batch, custom and specialty chemical manufacturers, to help address the needs of employers in manufacturing and the need for robust industry partnerships with educational institutions to promote the use of certifications. 

Recognizing that the foundation of a strong workforce begins with the education and training of future employees and as the manufacturing industry sustains growth and momentum, this partnership will focus on the expansion of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM)-Endorsed Manufacturing Skills Certification System, specifically in the aviation sectors. The Skills Certification System is seen as a key step towards building the educated and skilled workforce U.S. manufacturers need to successfully compete in the global economy.

The two organizations will work in partnership to reach manufacturers to provide solutions like the NAM-Endorsed Manufacturing Skills Certification System in an effort to fill the talent pool and close the skills gap.  The partnership will also provide opportunities to support the enhancement of the information pipeline about the career possibilities in the manufacturing sector, building on current initiatives like The Manufacturing Institute’s talent recruitment strategy, Dream It. Do It.  

The NAM-Endorsed Manufacturing Skills Certification System is the flagship education initiative of the manufacturing sector.  The Skills Certification System is being used to integrate nationally portable, industry-recognized credentials – their learning standards and content – into high school, community college, and university programs of study to build the nation’s technical workforce.  Certification partners comprise foundational academic, workplace, and technical skills as well as process and occupation-specific skills necessary for jobs across all sectors of the manufacturing economy. 

“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,” said Jennifer McNelly, president, The Manufacturing Institute.  “We now have a solution, the Skills Certification System, to help address the skills gap directly affecting the workforce pipeline for manufacturers.   SOCMA has already taken on these challenges, serving as a leader in the manufacturing sector by heading the National Association of Manufacturers’ Council of Manufacturing Associations.  We are pleased to welcome SOCMA as a new partner in our efforts to address the shortage of skilled workers in the United States.”

 “We commend The Manufacturing Institute for developing the Skills Certification System and tackling the critical issue of training a 21st Century workforce,” said Lawrence D. Sloan, SOCMA President and CEO. “As a chemical trade association, SOCMA is committed to doing its part to help meet the shortage of qualified workers in chemical manufacturing.”

Context
Results from the 2011 Skills Gap Report, authored by The Manufacturing Institute and Deloitte, show that over 80% of manufacturers are experiencing a moderate to serious shortage in skilled production talent, like machinists and technicians, and 60% have a similar shortage of production engineers.  This national crisis is predicted to worsen in the coming years.  To combat this talent crisis, the Institute identified several leading industry associations to serve as chief advocates for industry-recognized skills certifications.

About The Manufacturing Institute
The Manufacturing Institute (the Institute) is the 501 (c) 3 affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers. As a non-partisan organization, the Institute is committed to delivering leading-edge information and services to the nation's manufacturers. The Institute focuses on developing human capital strategies through education reform and workforce development, conducting applied research to provide critical information to public policy makers on challenges and opportunities for today's industry, and advancing the innovation capacity of manufacturers operating in a global market. Visit www.themanufacturinginstitute.org.

About SOCMA
SOCMA is the only U.S.-based trade association dedicated solely to the batch, custom and specialty chemical industry.  Since 1921, we have represented a diverse membership of small, medium and large chemical companies, making us the leading authority on this sector.  SOCMA has a global membership of 220 companies, which employ more than 46,000 workers in the U.S. alone.  The value of the products and services provided by SOCMA members is $24 billion, and the industry’s impact on the U.S. GDP is upwards of $2.9 trillion.  For more information on our services and products, please visit www.socma.com.