Massachusetts Vocational Technical High Schools
Machine Tool Technology Programs
2013 - 2014
Manufacturing Advancement Center Workforce Innovation Collaborative
100 Grove Street, Suite 108, Worcester, MA 01605
508.831.7020 ▪ www.macwic.org
State of the Vocational High School Machine Tool Technology Programs June 2014
In a 2006 survey, Massachusetts industry professionals generally agreed that
CVTE graduates are better prepared for post-high school life than most
college-preparatory graduates, not only because of the hard skills but also
because of the workplace skills and work ethic they have already developed.1
Dear Vocational Instructor/Administrator:
Even though it is only half over, 2014 has been a monumental year for the Manufacturing Advancement
Center Workforce Innovation Collaborative (MACWIC). On behalf of our members, I want to thank you for
participating in the inaugural year of MACWIC statewide vocational high school credentialing.
In February 2012, the Manufacturing Advancement Center Workforce Innovation Collaborative (MACWIC)
was created to be the statewide focal point for employer-led workforce training initiatives. The purpose of
the MACWIC is to preserve manufacturing tribal knowledge and to execute the transfer of knowledge and
critical skills to the current and future workforce. To further that goal, our members agreed to develop and
recognize the Applied Manufacturing Technology Pathway Certification.
The Applied Manufacturing Technology Pathway Certification is a standard instruction set and evaluation
process, which is continuously improved. Employers can readily understand the skill set of an applicant,
reducing the cost of hire. The MACWIC credential is industry-developed and industry-recognized as a way
to benchmark the competencies of manufacturing technology students. The credential has been developed
over the past 10 years from consultations and workforce development projects with clients of the
Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MassMEP).
Competency-based standardized curriculum
Industry-developed, industry recognized
Incorporated into MA Vocational Technical Education Frameworks
MA Division of Apprentice Standards pre-apprentice certificate for Level 2 certification
Establish yearly metrics and goals
Improve vocational high school Machine Tool Technology training
Connect community colleges
Statewide community college articulation agreement (in process)
The Applied Manufacturing Technology Pathway Certification has been vetted by the Center for Law and
Social Policy (www.clasp.org) in Washington, DC as a “quality career pathway”. Career pathways enable a
participant-no matter his or her entry point-to earn marketable credentials and access employment at or
above family supporting wages.
Well-connected education and training offerings
Multiple entry points that accommodate participants entering at different education and skill levels
Multiple exit points at successively higher levels of family-supporting employment and aligned with
subsequent educational entry points
1 “Hands-On Achievement: Why Massachusetts Vocational Technical Schools Have Low Dropout Rates”, Pioneer Institute for Public Policy Research, Alison L. Fraser with William Donovan, January 2013.
State of the Vocational High School Machine Tool Technology Programs June 2014
In February 2014, MassMEP and Worcester Polytechnic Institute announced that they would give
Massachusetts vocational high schools that validated their Machine Tool Technology program against the
MACWIC credential access to curriculum and online programming to support the certificate. Schools also
received copies of the Jeremy Bout’s Massachusetts “LaunchPoint” series that features local young people
and their journeys into manufacturing to use in their recruiting programs.
The total value of the grant was $2.5M.
Prior to supplying curriculum to the vocational technical high schools, the MACWIC gave a proctored
certification test to 229 students in 14 high schools to gather some baseline data on skill levels in five areas:
Shop Math, Blueprint Reading, Metrology and Quality Inspection, Safety, Work Readiness.
38.0% (87 of 229) students passed the MACWIC Applied Manufacturing Technology Certification
Pathway Level 1 Test.
The greatest skills deficits are in metrology and quality inspection, blueprint reading and work
readiness.
6.1% (14) of all students tested, achieved a passing grade of 85 or better in all five areas tested.
Two high school have moved ahead with Level 2 testing.
Three community colleges have tested students in Level 1 and/or Level 2 certification.
We look forward to continuing to provide industry support for vocational technical education, elevating
test scores and certifying more students in the coming years. Credentials with a college and career
connection will strengthen the manufacturing sector and help drive young people to exciting, high-demand
career opportunities. We look forward to working with all of your in the coming school year.
Thomas Wesley
Chair, Steering Committee
Manufacturing Advancement Center
Workforce Innovation Collaborative
More information about the Applied Manufacturing Technology Pathway Certification can be
found on the MACWIC website (www.macwic.org) or by calling 508.831.7020.
State of the Vocational High School Machine Tool Technology Programs June 2014
Applied Manufacturing Technology Certification Pathway
The Applied Manufacturing Technology Certification Pathway is an advanced manufacturing
certification program that serves two main purposes. One is to add value and merit to the industry to
encourage individuals to consider careers in advanced manufacturing. The second is to create a standard
instruction set and evaluation process (which is continuously improved) so that employers readily
understand the skill set of an applicant, therefore reducing the cost of hire.
This program is designed and influenced by industry leaders, implemented and monitored by an
organization with a deep knowledge of the industry, and utilizes existing regional: vocational-technical high
schools, community colleges, private and semi-private organizations to deliver training.
The Applied Manufacturing Technology Certification Pathway has been incorporated into
the Vocational Technical Education Frameworks and adopted by the Massachusetts Community
Colleges and Workforce Development Transformation Agenda (MCCWDTA).
For more information,
visit www.MACWIC.org/training/credentials
Designed for: ▪ unemployed workers ▪ career/technical students ▪ incumbent workers ▪ underemployed workers ▪ veterans
State of the Vocational High School Machine Tool Technology Programs June 2014
Schools with Machine Tool Technology Programs
Using MACWIC
Certificate of
Proficiency
Assabet Valley Reg. Voc. Tech. School X
Bay Path Reg. Voc. Tech. School (So. Worcester County RVTSD) X
Blackstone Valley Reg. Voc. Tech. School X
C. H. McCann Reg. Tech. School (No. Berkshire RVTSD) X
Franklin County Reg. Tech. School X
Greater Lowell Reg. Tech. School X
North Shore Reg. Tech. School X
Putnam Vocational Technical High School (Springfield) X
Shawsheen Valley Reg. Tech. School X
Smith Vocational & Agricultural School X
Somerville High School X
Taconic High School (Pittsfield) X
Whittier Reg. Voc. Tech. School X
Worcester Technical High School X
2013-2014 School Year Testing 14
Bristol - Plymouth Reg. Tech. School
Chicopee Comprehensive High School
Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School
Diman Reg. Voc. Tech. School (Greater Fall River RVTSD)
Gloucester High School
Greater New Bedford Reg. Voc. Tech. School
Leominster Center Technical Education
Montachusett Reg. Voc. Tech. School
Nashoba Valley Reg. Tech. School
Old Colony Reg. Voc. Tech. School
Pathfinder Reg. Voc. Tech. School
South Shore Reg. Voc. Tech. School
Southeastern Reg. Voc. Tech. School
Tantasqua Tech High School
Westfield Vocational Technical High School
William J. Dean Voc. Tech. High School (Holyoke) 2013-2014 School Year Testing Goal: 10
2014-2015 School Year Testing Goal: 20
State of the Vocational High School Machine Tool Technology Programs June 2014
Schools using the MACWIC Certificate of Proficiency
State of the Vocational High School Machine Tool Technology Programs June 2014
40.00
45.00
50.00
55.00
60.00
65.00
70.00
75.00
80.00
85.00
90.00
95.00
100.00
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N
Vocational HS MACWIC Level 1 Module Test Comparison
Shop Math Test
Blueprint Reading Test
Metrology & Quality Inspection Test
Safety Test
Work Readiness Test
State of the Vocational High School Machine Tool Technology Programs June 2014
MACWIC Level 1 Class Averages
SchoolShop Math
Test
Blueprint
Reading Test
Metrology &
Quality
Inspection
Test
Safety Test
Work
Readiness
Test
Level 1
Average
% of
Students
Passing
A 94.67 83.93 76.58 95.67 82.17 86.60 80.00%
B 90.44 74.84 78.16 92.00 80.67 83.22 53.33%
C 90.00 75.56 74.59 94.12 79.41 82.74 52.94%
D 90.72 71.92 73.29 91.20 78.60 81.15 44.00%
E 90.22 71.10 74.46 93.70 67.22 79.34 37.04%
F 78.80 68.53 70.60 94.00 79.00 78.19 60.00%
G 87.41 67.84 72.77 90.00 69.41 77.49 35.29%
H 88.95 63.37 70.63 92.63 71.05 77.33 21.05%
I 83.07 67.30 71.43 91.11 69.41 76.47 11.11%
J 86.53 68.34 72.20 92.11 72.45 78.33 33.33%
K 77.38 57.79 68.06 94.62 68.46 73.26 15.38%
L 87.26 63.54 68.12 92.22 73.44 72.24 21.05%
M 83.38 55.28 66.44 89.23 66.15 72.10 15.38%
0.00% 10.00% 20.00% 30.00% 40.00% 50.00% 60.00% 70.00% 80.00% 90.00%
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
% of Students Passing MACWIC Level 1 Test
State of the Vocational High School Machine Tool Technology Programs June 2014
40.00 45.00 50.00 55.00 60.00 65.00 70.00 75.00 80.00 85.00 90.00 95.00 100.00
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
MACWIC Module Test Comparison - Shop Math
40.00 45.00 50.00 55.00 60.00 65.00 70.00 75.00 80.00 85.00 90.00 95.00 100.00
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
MACWIC Module Test Comparison - Blueprint Reading
40.00 45.00 50.00 55.00 60.00 65.00 70.00 75.00 80.00 85.00 90.00 95.00 100.00
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
MACWIC Module Test Comparison - Metrology & Quality Inspection
State of the Vocational High School Machine Tool Technology Programs June 2014
40.00 45.00 50.00 55.00 60.00 65.00 70.00 75.00 80.00 85.00 90.00 95.00 100.00
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
MACWIC Module Test Comparison - Safety
40.00 45.00 50.00 55.00 60.00 65.00 70.00 75.00 80.00 85.00 90.00 95.00 100.00
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
MACWIC Module Test Comparison - Work Readiness
State of the Vocational High School Machine Tool Technology Programs June 2014
40.00
50.00
60.00
70.00
80.00
90.00
100.00
Shop Math Test Blueprint Reading Test Metrology & Quality
Inspection Test
Safety Test Work Readiness Test
MACWIC Level 1 Test Scores by Region
Central North East Western Southeast