MSSC Testing and Certification

The MSSC Skill Standards Major Components

Information About the Work

This component describes competent performance on the job. It includes:

Critical Work Functions:

• Key Activities: major responsibilities of work within a concentration
• Performance Indicators: ways to judge when someone performs each key activity competently

Information About the Worker

This component describes what a worker needs to know and do to perform the work of each critical work function. It relates to the key activities and performance indicators. There are three types of knowledge and skills measured:

• Academic Knowledge and Skills: skills such as science, reading, writing, mathematics, etc.
• Employability Knowledge and Skills: broad skills such as working in teams, solving problems, leadership, etc.
• Occupational and technical Knowledge and Skills: skills specific to an industry or concentration. An example is using inspection tools. Another is knowledge of manufacturing processes.

The MSSC skills certification seeks to bring a standard of performance to a wide diversity of production jobs in the manufacturing area. By instituting a skills certification process as the basis for employment readiness, individuals who lack sufficient education and training will have a clear set of expectations and requirements that they can rely on as a basis for measuring preparation to enter the realm of advanced manufacturing.

See the MSSC Production Assessment: Structure and Processes