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Our country is facing a near-crisis situation in workforce capability and capacity. The negative perceptions around trade careers in manufacturing — from job image to earning potential — have resulted in a rapid decline in US manufacturing workforce and productivity. This decline not only threatens our economic prosperity but poses a real threat to our national security.
The Industrial Base and Sustainment (IBAS) program, headed by the US Department of Defense, has defined and initiated a National Workforce Imperative to urgently and dramatically address this near-crisis situation. IBAS – working in partnership with prominent government, industry trade organizations, manufacturers, educational institutions, educators, and community leaders – is building and driving a movement to help solve this critical Workforce Gap.
Project MFGTM is an organization dedicated to elevating the next generation of highly skilled trade professionals by changing mindsets, fostering community involvement and providing a pathway to teaching the critical skills needed to succeed in modern advanced manufacturing. Through a skills based competition series designed to inspire “moments that spark a movement” and restore America’s industrial base, Project MFG competitions demonstrate problem-solving abilities and technological aptitudes needed to build the next generation of skilled machinists, welders, programmers, mechanics, and fabricators.
The focus of Project MFG’s competition series is to assess and build up the Nation’s workforce training capabilities. Specifically, this competition assesses the welding trades, which are immediately needed to address shortages in the U.S. Ship Building Industry as well as Manufacturing.
The purpose of this playbook is to provide the participants and their instructors with the information needed to successfully complete the competition.
National Welding League Series Framework
The Project MFG National Welding League (NWL) is a welding-focused student competition that is comprised of 2 rounds of qualifying competitions and ending in an in-person National Championship.
Qualifying rounds of competition are hosted remotely at the student’s school or home institution and facilitated by their instructor, who acts as an “Honest Broker” ensuring competitive fairness. The competition project kits are shipped to the student’s school or host institution. Competition documentation and management is handled on the Project MFG Compete Platform online.
Once competitors receive their project material, they will then complete their project according to the Technical Data Package (TDP) consisting of drawings, Weld Procedure Sheets (WPS), and any supplemental instructions indicated in the Project MFG Compete Platform. Note that the scoring process requires submission of a short video, project photographs (both in-process and complete), self-assessments, instructor verification and sign off. All submittals are managed through the Project MFG Compete Platform online. Additionally, all completed projects should be retained by the student or school until the completion of the National Competition in case additional photographs or physical examination of the project is required for further scoring validation.
Competitors must adhere to the safety requirements of their respective school or location. A list of the minimum safety requirements is provided below. Should any safety questions arise or issues encountered, stop work and seek further guidance from your instructor, site supervisor, or competition coordinator.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
Working Areas:
General Rules:
In-person events: Instructors are NOT allowed in the competition areas and are NOT allowed to talk about the project with the student during the competition.
Competitor Requirements:
Disqualification:
Project MFG reserves final authority for all rulings and rules interpretations.
Project MFG will provide each competitor with one kit.
Project MFG competitions are industry recognized skills assessments. Preparing for and competing in these competitions provide practical experience that help competitors succeed in trade industry jobs.
Scoring Scheme:
The scoring scheme ties the competition project assessment to industry standards. Competitors earn points on their project based on their performance against the project requirements. Each competition round (project) is scored individually.
Competition Scoring:
A panel of judges will evaluate each competitor’s project against the project requirements. Judges are consistent for all teams and/or individuals competing. The scoring scheme will use a 1 to 10 point scale to score each measurable attribute identified in the project.
Project MFG reserves final authority for all rulings and rules interpretations.
