As part of my work with the George W. Bush Institute, I supported a series of meetings with experts on how to strengthen the competitiveness of the North American region. One of our primary recommendations was to invest in “up-skilling” and growing our next generation of frontline manufacturing and logistics workers.
All three countries face a significant and growing shortfall in skilled workers for frontline jobs in advanced manufacturing and logistics. By streamlining and harmonizing a regional approach to standards and training, we can bring maximum value to workforce credentials that are portable across employers, across industries, and across our region.
The approach we recommended is being piloted, refined, and championed by NASCO – the North American Strategy For Competitiveness organization. At their annual “Continental Reunion,” I had the privilege of moderating a panel on this topic which included the following excellent speakers:
Leo Reddy, CEO, Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC)
Fernando Turner, Secretary of Economic Development & Labor, State of Nuevo Leon
Renae Scott, Manager, Training, GENCO, A Fed-Ex Company
David Suess, Director, Manufacturing Skills Centre, Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters
