TSSB-Recognized Skill Standards
October 24, 2006

Background

These national skill standards for were developed by the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) in voluntary partnership with the National Skill Standards Board in the late 1990’s. The MSSC is a national industry group that is highly recognized by its constituent industry. It involved approximately 4,000 workers, 700 companies and 300 subject matter experts in the skill standards’ development. The skill standards are organized around the six major job concentrations in manufacturing: production; maintenance, installation, and repair; quality assurance; product and process development; logistics and inventory control; and health, safety, and environmental assurance. This introduction describes the skill standards developed for the production career concentration.

Importance to Texas

The Advanced Technologies and Manufacturing industry cluster is one of six industry clusters included in the Texas Industry Cluster Initiative, which is leading the state toward realizing a vision to build the future economy of the state by focusing on competitive advantage.

The report indicates a concern about a lack of a skilled workforce pipeline from which to draw future employees. A pool of skilled workers is instrumental in attracting manufacturing industry investment in Texas. The report includes among its recommendations to address this concern that industry must interface with academia for curriculum development. Skill standards are a vehicle for implementing this recommendation.

Workers in the production concentration set up, monitor, control, and improve manufacturing process and schedules to meet customer and business requirements. According to Texas Workforce Commission labor market information, these workers earn an average hourly wage of approximately $12.50. Supervisors and managers earn an average hourly wage of almost $23.00. The occupation is expected to grow steadily, but it is also expected to have a strong requirement to fill openings created each year to replace workers who leave the occupation either through new employment or through retirement.

TSSB Recognition

These skill standards were originally recognized by the TSSB at its July 17, 2001 meeting at the request of Schlumberger Company in Houston. The TSSB extended its recognition of the MSSC skill standards at its October 24, 2006 meeting at the request of the MSSC on behalf of its industry membership.