On June 8, 2011, President Obama announced key steps by private sector partners towards building the educated and skilled workforce U.S. manufacturers need to successfully compete in the 21st century economy. This includes a five-year goal by the Manufacturing Institute and its partners to award 500,000 industry-based credentials to individuals, positioning them for employment and advancement in manufacturing jobs.
In less than a year, the Manufacturing Institute and its partners have announced significant progress towards achieving that five-year goal. Over the past year, the certification bodies partnered with the Institute have issued 84,738 certifications to students and incumbent workers that cover in-demand, portable skill-sets necessary across multiple manufacturing sectors.
Fonte: White House