NORTHBROOK, IL – UL, a global safety science company, and Tooling U-SME, a leader in manufacturing workforce and education development, announce the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) focused on a new collaboration to enhance workforce training and development efforts for manufacturers wanting to increase their capabilities in additive manufacturing. This combined effort between UL and Tooling U-SME will align training and certification, resulting in a single source for professional Additive Manufacturing (AM) certification.

“We’re thrilled to collaborate with Tooling U-SME to develop and offer this industry-leading AM certification program,” said Melissa Albrecht, UL AM global program manager. “We plan to leverage the best components of our respective training and certification programs to provide the AM industry with what we believe to be will be the gold-standard in AM professional certification.”

Tooling U-SME introduced its additive manufacturing certification program, co-sponsored by America Makes, the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute, earlier this year, adding to a growing portfolio of learning and development solutions for the manufacturing community. UL’s additive manufacturing training program was developed in cooperation with numerous industry leaders and introduced in late 2014. At the time, it was the first AM training program of its kind.

“Both Tooling U-SME and UL have great strengths in our respective areas and by working to align workforce training and certification efforts, we can greatly impact the professional development of the manufacturing workforce,” said Jeannine Kunz, vice president of Tooling U-SME. “Not only will this new collaboration enhance the value of the training solutions we provide, but, as identified by the America Makes Workforce and Education Roadmap, it’s exactly the type of effort the industry is requesting.”

The organizations will debut the new AM certification program at the 2018 AMUG Conference, April 8-12 in St. Louis, MO, and RAPID + TCT Event, April 23-26 in Fort Worth, TX. Program and registration details will be communicated in January 2018. 

About UL

UL fosters safe living and working conditions for people everywhere through the application of science to solve safety, security and sustainability challenges. The UL Mark engenders trust enabling the safe adoption of innovative new products and technologies. Everyone at UL shares a passion to make the world a safer place. We test, inspect, audit, certify, validate, verify, advise and train and we support these efforts with software solutions for safety and sustainability. To learn more about us, visit UL.com. 

About Tooling U-SME

Tooling U-SME delivers versatile, competency-based learning and development solutions to the manufacturing community, working with more than half of all Fortune 500® manufacturing companies, as well as 600 educational institutions across the country. Tooling U-SME partners with customers to build high performers who help their companies drive quality, profitability, productivity, innovation and employee satisfaction. Working directly with hundreds of high schools, community and technical colleges, and universities, Tooling U-SME is able to help prepare the next-generation workforce by providing industry-driven curriculum. A division of SME, a nonprofit that connects all those who are passionate about making things that improve our world, Tooling U-SME can be found at toolingu.com or on Facebook (facebook.com/toolingu) and Twitter (twitter.com/toolingu). 

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If you have questions about the press release or need additional information, please contact SME Public Relations at communications@sme.org.