TCC Opens Manufacturing Skill Standards Certification Program

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (June 10, 2008) - Tallahassee Community College has become an assessment center for the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC), which means that area residents will be able to earn industry certification. Housed at the College’s Division of Economic & Workforce Development (EWD), the assessment program represents the first effort by the manufacturing industry to create a nationally-recognized certificate.

“The certificate states that the participant has successfully mastered the specific skills covered during the assessment,” said Michelle Baragona, Senior Performance Consultant in EWD’s Corporate Solutions unit.

The MSSC center will employ computer-based simulations of actual factory floor situations to measure safety, quality control practices, manufacturing procedure and maintenance awareness. It will assess participants’ understanding of key work activities, basic technical knowledge and skills required for high-performance manufacturing jobs. And it will measure basic computer, problem-solving and analytical skills.

“The certification program is designed around manufacturers’ needs,” said Rick Frazier, Director of Economic Development & Corporate Services at EWD.

David Bowman, human resources director at Danfoss Turbocor – manufacturer of the world’s first oil-free compressor – said he believes MSSC applicants would be an asset to his firm.

“Applicants who apply to our company with the MSSC certification should be able to step onto our manufacturing floor sooner,” said Bowman. “Our expectation is the certification would make them more valuable, since they will save us training time and, ultimately, save us money.”

To workers, MSSC certification provides a statement of successfully mastered skills, said Baragona. For employers, it may decrease recruitment costs, by providing job candidates with industry-recognized credentials.

In addition, students who earn MSSC certification can receive 15 credit hours from select Florida community colleges.

For more information about scheduling and cost, contact Michelle Baragona at (850) 201-2424.