Illinois State Senator Dan Cronin visited gearmotor manufacturer Bison Gear & Engineering Corporation on November 6 to explore Bison's successful implementation of the nationally recognized Manufacturing Skill Standards Certification (MSSC) Program for his cable television series "Illinois Education." MSSC resulted from a voluntary partnership between industry, labor and education to raise the skill level of America's production workforce and increase global competitiveness.
The MSSC System awards Certified Production Technician (CPT) certificates to individuals who pass any or all of its four Production modules: Safety; Quality Practices & Measurement; Manufacturing Processes & Production; and Maintenance Awareness. The CPT certificates are nationally portable and have been officially recognized by the Illinois Manufacturers Association as a credential for hiring production workers.
"The foundation of a good education system is what you have to build on," said Bison Gear president and CEO Martin Swarbrick. "The MSSC program is a core element in our program to keep globally competitive." Bison employees are rewarded financially for successfully completing each of the four MSSC modules.
Ron Bullock, Bison Gear chairman, adds, "Bison has invested in building two balance sheets: a financial balance sheet and what we call a 'human capital' balance sheet." Through its Manufacturing Careers Council activities, Bison is working actively with other manufacturers, education institutions, and workforce development organizations to enable delivery of the MSSC training and certification to enable job seekers to prepare for careers in manufacturing.
The 25-minute "Illinois Education" video can be viewed at the BisonGear.com website, along with two related short videos entitled, "Implementing the MSSC creates a better skilled workforce at Bison" and "Employees benefit at Bison with the MSSC program."
About the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council
The Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) is an industry-led standards-based, training, assessment and certification system focused on the core skills and knowledge needed by the nation's production and supply chain logistics workers. The nationwide MSSC System, based upon industry-defined and federally-endorsed national standards, offers both entry-level and incumbent workers the opportunity to demonstrate that they have acquired the skills increasingly needed in the high-growth, technology-intensive jobs of the 21st century. The MSSC offers certificates and/or certification for both Production Workers and Front Line Workers in Supply Chain Logistics foundational-level and mid-level roles.
About Bison Gear & Engineering Corporation
Founded in 1960, Bison Gear & Engineering designs and manufactures fractional horsepower electric motors, gearmotors and gear reducers used in industrial and commercial OEM applications worldwide. Bison's strong engineering tradition, based on Robusticity principles, offers products with up to twice as much torque in the same package size as competitors. Bison's St. Charles, Illinois integrated production facility manufactures gearmotors and reducers in parallel shaft and right angle configurations, as well as AC and DC electric motors, for applications where dependability and long lifetimes are important.
