Innovators in Manufacturer Skill Training and Solar Manufacturing Join CMTA as Associate Members

Sacramento, CA – The California Manufacturers & Technology Association (CMTA) today announced two new associate members. The Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) brings essential and advanced training to industry professionals, and Solar4America’s expansion in the solar industry is vital to the state and community’s economic growth.

“I am delighted to announce these two companies as associate members of CMTA – both for the different tools they bring to our robust industry,” said Lance Hastings, President & CEO of CMTA. “MSSC is setting the standard for industry training, which creates a level of excellence for California manufacturers. Meanwhile, we are excited for Solar4America’s expansion in Sacramento that has put them at the top of U.S. Solar manufacturing while also bringing in hundreds of more jobs for the community.”

Courtesy of Manufacturing Skills Standards Council

The Manufacturing Skill Standards Council, a 501(c)3 non-profit, is an industry-led training, assessment, and certification system focused on the core skills and knowledge needed by the nation’s front-line production and material handling workers. MSSC, the only ISO Standard 17024 certified program covering entry-level to basic front-line supervisor skills, is nationally recognized, federally endorsed, and has been vetted by the U.S. Departments of Labor, Education, Commerce, Defense, Justice, and is endorsed by the National Association of Manufacturers for both manufacturing and logistics.

MSSC was officially endorsed in 1998 by the federal National Skill Standards Board as the group responsible for industry-defined national skill standards and certification for entry-level production technicians in all manufacturing sectors. They have since developed seven certification and training programs and have certified over 122,000 candidates. With a national infrastructure of over 2,000 authorized assessments centers and a network of over 3,300 qualified instructors, MSSC offers the industry a new set of tools to ensure that both entering and incumbent technicians have an understanding and knowledge of Industry 4.0 technologies, are flexible, easily trainable and highly motivated technicians able to keep pace with technological change – the “Industrial Athlete of the Future.”

“By becoming a member of CMTA, MSSC intends to be a proactive collaborator with the C.A. workforce development community stakeholders, including its manufacturing members,” said Steve Harrington, MSSC Senior Advisor. “The talent shortage is being felt by small and large companies across the Golden State, and to overcome this widening hurdle, stakeholders of all sides must convene and implement durable solutions. With their industry-defined standards, MSSC will spur the momentum needed to build talent pipelines across all Californian manufacturing industries.”

Courtesy of Solar4America

Solar4America is part of SPI Energy (NASDAQ “SPI”) with 20 years of experience in solar project development and manufacturing. The company purchased an existing solar module factory at McClellan in 2021 and recently expanded it to be the second-largest U.S. solar module manufacturer. Further expansion plans are in place, with a total of 400 jobs expected within 24 months.

“We are very excited to be part of CMTA to share our vision that manufacturing can be done in California and to be fully immersed in the community by providing green energy careers,” said Andrew Hughan, Director, Government Relations & Marketing for Solar4America.

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About CMTA:
The California Manufacturers & Technology Association has advocated for pro-growth laws and regulations before the California legislature and administrative agencies since 1918. Total output from manufacturing in California is $300 billion per year, roughly 10 percent of the total economic output of the state. Manufacturers employ 1.3 million Californians paying wages more than $25,000 higher than other non-farm employers in the state. For more information, visit the CMTA website.

About MSSC:
Certifying over 100,000 candidates, the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) ®, an industry-led 501(c)3 non-profit, is America’s leader in training and certifying foundational technical competencies for front-line technicians for in-demand, higher wage, higher skill jobs in advanced manufacturing and supply chain logistics.
Technicians with MSSC Certifications are qualified for 11.3 million jobs in front-line production, material handling, and distribution. 84% of executives surveyed agree there is a talent shortage in U.S. manufacturing. MSSC is helping industry close that gap as they prepare to manufacture the future! For more information, visit MSSC’s website.

About Solar4America:
Solar4America is a premium solar panel US manufacturer, located in Sacramento, CA. We manufacture a variety of solar panels for residential, commercial, and utility projects. We have been investing extensively in state-of-the-art equipment, technologies and teams in the U.S., which enables us to provide great local customer services and warranties to our customers. For more information, visit Solar4America’s website.

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