Contractor Safety Readiness Certificate Program Reaches 1,000 Trainees
RICHMOND, VA – The Manufacturing Skills Institute (MSI) reached an important milestone today. The MSI Contractor Safety Readiness Certificate program enrolled its 1,000th trainee this week. The Contractor Safety Readiness Certificate program was created by Virginia’s leading manufacturers and construction/engineering contractors as a “Gold Standard” for individual safety training standards in manufacturing and non-manufacturing spaces. The Certificate and skills assessment can be completed in 10 hours and covers nine (9) core safety standards.
Jim Bush, DuPont AFS Business Engineering Leader, stated, “By leveraging core common safety principles, both Virginia manufacturers and their contractors mutually benefit. As manufacturers, we must ensure that anyone working at our facilities has a base-level of safety training. The program allows contractors to focus on other more specific craft or job-specific training. Certainly, the most important aspect is a ‘win’ for both manufacturers and contractors: a safer workforce.”
The MSI Manufacturing Technology (MT) Program continues to grow as well. Over 1,100 individuals have been assessed and/or trained in the MT program. MT covers 12 critical technical skills that prepare individuals to be successful in today’s modern manufacturing.
“The MSI and its partners remain committed to closing the skills gaps in manufacturing through industry-driven workforce solutions,” said Katherine DeRosear, MSI Director of Partnership and Workforce Development. “In addition to providing access to world class manufacturing skills training and certifications, the MSI is dedicated to improving the image of careers in modern manufacturing through Dream It Do It Virginia.”
The MSI continues to support the Dream It Do It Virginia (DIDIVA) Network as a means of attracting people to advanced technology sectors such as manufacturing. The DIDIVA Network reached more than 7,000 students, parents, counselors and teachers, held three manufacturing technology summer camps and awarded more than $190,000 in training scholarships last year. This year, the DIDIVA Network expects to reach 10,000 students, every career and technical education teacher, 100 career coaches, 10,000 veterans, 10,000 dislocated workers and 10,000 visitors through its new Career Information System.
About MSI The Virginia Manufacturers Association (VMA) and ECPI University (ECPI) founded the Manufacturing Skills Institute™ (MSI) in 2012. The MSI provides relevant education and skills training for careers in advanced manufacturing by offering world-class training programs delivered by MSI and MSI education partner institutions. Through the partnership between industry and education, employers set the skill standards for MSI program offerings anywhere offered to ensure learning is linked to employment and career advancement opportunities. Employer-specific customized training can be provided onsite or at any MSI education partner location. Working learners advance their manufacturing technology knowledge and skills via OJT classes, classroom-based and online training offered by MSI and education partner faculty grounded in real word experience.
About VMA The VMA is the only statewide association exclusively dedicated to manufacturers and their network of service providers. Since 1922, the VMA has exclusively served as Industry’s Advocate™, and our mission is to create the best business environment in the United States for world-class advanced technology businesses to manufacture and headquarter their businesses for maximum productivity and profitability. The VMA also supports a broad array of business services and programs to help ensure that manufacturing companies can be productive, profitable and competitive in Virginia. Virginia’s more than 6,000 manufacturers employ more than 220,000 individuals, contribute $34 billion to the gross state product and account for more than 80 percent of the state’s exports to the global economy.
About DIDIVA The DIDIVA outreach and awareness network is a partner of the national Dream It. Do It. Network as developed by the Manufacturing Institute and expanded to Virginia in 2007 by the Virginia Industry Foundation and the VMA. The DIDIVA Network’s mission is to encourage people to explore and pursue advanced technology careers in Virginia, such as manufacturing, biotechnology, robotics, nanotechnology, aviation, energy, information technology, health care and more. The DIDIVA offers a free Career Information System, built by Virginia’s advanced technology sector, to help individuals learn more about exciting career opportunities and connect them with possible future employment. The DIDIVA Network also features the two-time, award-winning “So What Do You Do?” integrated marketing campaign in all its media.