As an extension of our work with ACT, our services were extended to the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM). More specifically to their education and research unit, The Manufacturing Institute. As part of the NAM’s continuing mission to revolutionize the US manufacturing workforce, the trade organization launched  the NAM-Endorsed Skills Certification System, which stacked workplace credentials up from foundational skills to advanced technical competencies. The National Career Readiness Certificate, issued by ACT, formed the base of this system. To assist with the launch, ACT brought the Westergaard team into the fold.

When you are the nation’s largest industrial trade organization, as the NAM is, it’s clear that you have a very well-established and respected brand …

In creating an identity for the skills certification system our goal was to build a child logo that would seamlessly integrate into the NAM family of logos.

Our next step in communicating the system was to distill visuals from the Manufacturing Institute into clear and concise charts that outlined different aspects of the program from educational pathways to career clusters.

With these key visuals locked down we took a step back and worked with the team at the Manufacturing Institute on wrapping the system with a narrative that clearly outlined the skills crisis faced by modern manufacturers and positioned the NAM-Endorsed Skills Certification system as the solution for preparing a 21st century workforce. This took the shape of a large fold-out brochure. In the end, this piece along with the three info sheets above were inserted into a matching folder and distributed to key stakeholders at the launch.

The NAM-Endorsed Skills Certification System was launched at the National Press Club in Washington DC at an event featuring NAM President and Former Michigan Governor John Engler alongside ACT Chairmen and CEO Richard Ferguson. We are proud to contribute to this movement.