3 Reasons World-Class Manufacturers Hire Candidates with SACA Certifications
SACA certifications are the gold standard for Industry 4.0 talent, so if you’re not hiring from SACA-aligned programs, you’re already behind. Learn why world-class industrial employers are making SACA certifications a hiring priority.
Finding skilled talent in manufacturing and industrial sectors is harder than ever. As an employer, you need to see more than a resume. You need candidates who can demonstrate real-world skills, industry alignment, and a commitment to continuous learning. But how can you be sure a candidate has the skills you value?
The Smart Automation Certification Alliance (SACA) is the new standard across technical certifications. Built with industry at the table, SACA certifications are designed to meet the needs of modern employers who demand both knowledge and hands-on ability from their workforce. Whether you’re hiring for advanced manufacturing, industrial automation, or smart systems integration, SACA credentials offer a reliable signal of a candidate’s workforce readiness.
That’s why leading manufacturers like Amazon, Rockwell Automation, Ashley Furniture, Hershey, FANUC, Boeing, and hundreds of others have gotten involved with SACA. If you’re in HR, workforce development, or technical hiring and not asking for SACA credentials on your job postings, you’re missing out on the most job-ready candidates in advanced manufacturing.
1. Built by Industry, for Industry
SACA certifications are industry-driven, developed by industry, for industry. Every credential begins with the creation of international skill standards, endorsed by experts in Industry 4.0 technologies from around the world. Topics range from robotics and IoT to process control, electrical systems, semiconductor operations, and many more. This ensures every credential reflects the real-world competencies demanded by today’s advanced manufacturing environments.
SACA certifications are developed in accordance with ISO 17024 standards, the global benchmark for personnel certification. This means they’re not just well-designed, but they’re also credible, consistent, and globally-recognized.
All certifications, after initial topic selection, go through a technical work group. These groups are responsible for defining the competencies, tasks, and performance standards that each certification will assess. These work groups are made up of industry professionals who lead manufacturing and technical teams and are experts in the topic area. This ensures that every certification reflects current technologies, tools, and workflows used in industry.
The input from these work groups guarantees that SACA credentials are not only technically rigorous but also immediately relevant to employers. And because SACA updates its certifications annually, they stay aligned with the latest technologies and tools.
2. Based on Knowledge AND Hands-On Skills
One of the most powerful aspects of SACA certifications is their dual-level structure: Silver and Gold. This tiered approach is designed to build employer confidence by validating both what a person knows and what they can do.
- Silver SACA certifications validate a candidate’s understanding of key concepts, terminology, and systems. A Silver certification signals that an individual has a solid grasp of the technical landscape and has a strong foundation and understanding of the technology.
- Gold SACA certifications go a step further by requiring candidates to demonstrate their skills in a hands-on environment. Proctored only by other gold-certified SACA earners, these certifications give credibility and proof of a professional’s experience.
Most credentials fall short because they don’t require candidates to physically demonstrate their abilities. SACA fills that gap. Its dual-level structure and performance-based assessments make it one of the most robust certification models in the industry. And because SACA is a third-party, nationally recognized credentialing body, employers can trust that its standards are impartial, consistent, and aligned with the needs of modern manufacturing.
3. Stackable, Modular, and Occupationally-Aligned
SACA certifications are built to scale. Whether you’re hiring entry-level technicians or developing advanced engineers, the stackable structure allows professionals to build their credentials over time.
Learners can begin with a single certification and build upon it, adding new credentials that reflect their growing expertise and evolving career goals. This modular design allows individuals to customize their learning path and document a wide range of skills, all while staying aligned with the demands of modern Industry 4.0 workplaces.
Unlike generic training programs, SACA certifications are occupationally-focused. That means each Specialist and Professional certification is tied to a specific job role or function within the smart manufacturing ecosystem. Whether someone is preparing for a role in industrial maintenance, systems design, or data-driven optimization, SACA certifications ensure that the skills being assessed are directly applicable to real-world tasks. This occupational alignment helps workforce leaders identify talent that’s not only technically capable but also strategically positioned to contribute to high-tech production environments.
SACA’s microcredentials are divided into core and elective categories and offered at silver and gold levels. Core micro-credentials certify skills that are applicable to all companies, while elective micro-credentials can be added to match with regional or specific company needs.
These micro-credentials can stack into full specialist or professional certifications. Specialist certifications are keyed to a skilled occupation and certify technical skills in operations, troubleshooting, programming, maintenance, and systems integration. Professional certifications are engineering certifications that focus on analysis, design, and optimization of Industry 4.0 systems.
This modular format makes SACA ideal for scalable workforce development. You can upskill employees incrementally, tailor training to your equipment, and build career pathways that align with your operational goals.
Tap Into the Talent Pipeline
Employers shouldn’t wait for certified professionals to show up at their door. Across the country, high schools, technical colleges, and workforce training centers are building SACA-aligned labs and integrating SACA certifications into their programs. These institutions are producing graduates who are ready to contribute from day one. By partnering with these schools, employers can build direct hiring pipelines, offer internships, and even shape training to match their equipment and processes.
By engaging with SACA-certified programs, employers can shape the future of their workforce. Many schools with SACA labs welcome industry partnerships, offering opportunities to host facility tours or provide guest speaking sessions. These collaborations help students gain familiarity with your company that can be top of mind when having conversations about their futures. Employers who invest early in these relationships gain first access to top talent and build long-term pipelines of skilled professionals who are already aligned with their company’s standards and technologies.
Hire with Confidence and Lead with Capability
Developed by industry professionals, validated through hands-on performance, and organized into stackable microcredentials, SACA certifications align directly with the needs of modern production environments.
SACA certified candidates are showing up with validated skills, hands-on experience, and a clear understanding of the technologies shaping modern manufacturing.
Looking for a place to start? Here are easy ways to take advantage of SACA-certified talent:
- Start adding SACA certifications on your job postings.
- Find a SACA school near you: https://www.saca.org/member-institutions/
- Have your company become a SACA member: https://www.saca.org/industry-membership-benefits/. This way, you can certify your own employees.
- Stay up to date on current and new certifications: https://www.saca.org/smart-automation-certifications/
- Get involved in a technical work group to have your voice heard in the creation of new credentials.
In a world where technology evolves fast and talent is a competitive edge, SACA makes workforce development both practical and powerful. The companies already hiring for SACA know this, and if you’re not, you’re leaving talent on the table.
- Published in News
Industry Credentials Turned a Career’s Worth of Experience Into College Credit
SACA certifications give learners a way to turn real-world expertise into college credit, saving time, reducing costs, and accelerating career growth.
For any parent, their child’s graduation is a moment of pride. For Jason Solberg, it’s also a personal milestone. This spring, he’ll don his cap and gown alongside his son, Tyler, as both become some of the first graduates of the University of Wisconsin-Stout’s new Bachelor of Automation Leadership program.
The degree is the first of its kind, offering students an opportunity to blend technical skills with industrial business leadership expertise. The program prepares learners to lead in areas such as Industry 4.0, digital transformation, and operations management.
What makes this program so unique is that 61 credits can be transferred through associated credentials from the Smart Automation Certification Alliance (SACA), a national certification body that delivers industry-recognized certifications and microcredentials in advanced manufacturing and Industry 4.0. SACA silver certifications are written exams that test knowledge, and gold certifications are hands-on assessments that measure technical skill.
Add general education credits, and students can transfer up to 88 total credits to UW-Stout from any technical or community college in the country that has a transfer agreement with UW-Stout.
In other words, students can complete 75% of a 120-credit bachelor’s degree without paying university tuition.
To finish their degree, students will build on their technical foundation with courses in IoT, lean manufacturing, project management, and digital strategy. Then, they’ll complete an automation leadership internship and final capstone project. These capstones showcase a student’s understanding of both the technical and business sides of a project, including scheduling, budgeting, team management, and communication.
Jason Solberg describes himself as a man who’s done a little bit of everything, with a career that has spanned roles, technologies, and learning environments. That versatility is exactly what accelerated his journey through the Automation Leadership degree.
Jason’s has had roles in operations, maintenance, automation, and instruction, with roles at Tecumseh Products, Waukesha Engines, and GE. Early on, he pursued technical education at Moraine Park Technical College and completed a journeyman apprenticeship at Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC).
Having spent over two decades in industry, Jason moved to the world of education after discovering a job listing for an adjunct instructor position at WCTC. “I took the plunge and I went to the other side and became a teacher. It was terrifying because I never taught a day in my life.”
After nine years of teaching, Jason has now taught over 28 different courses and set up five apprenticeship programs. “I don’t teach for the money. I do it because I want to make a difference in people’s life.”
Always looking to grow, Jason had recently enrolled at Lakeland College for data analytics when WCTC Associate Vice Provost of Academic Affairs, Mike Shiels, mentioned a new program that might be of interest. The University of Wisconsin-Stout’s new bachelor of Automation Leadership was being rolled out and looking for students. With the SACA credential portion of the degree, Shiels explained how Jason could gain credit for his years of experience.
“I just took whatever [SACA assessments] just to see, test myself. I got 15 or 16 silvers from that,” Jason explains how he received his SACA credentials. He then spent 4 days at Lakeshore College in Cleveland, Wisconsin testing for his gold certifications. “I didn’t even study. I went in there and I walked away with 10 golds.” These credentials will translate into 28 credits towards Jason’s degree.
Unlike the traditional credit for prior learning model, which maps to courses, Stout’s model uses the earned SACA credentials to award credit. According to Program Director Dr. Xuedong (David) Ding, “SACA makes this program possible. Because if there is no national or internationally-recognized skill set competencies certificate, this program would not be available.”
Dr. Ding also explains how SACA’s industry-validated and standardized benchmarks, along with flexible delivery, enabled the University to format the program to support reshoring American manufacturing.
Jason is the perfect example of what makes the Automation Leadership degree so unique. By earning his 25 SACA certifications, he validated decades of hands-on experience and turned those credentials directly into college credit. This allowed him to reduce the time it will take to obtain the degree as well as reduce tuition costs, since converting certifications into credits meant fewer classes to pay for. Jason’s journey shows that when education aligns with experience, learners can move forward faster, with greater purpose and impact.
“I like to lead by example, and I want to pave the path for our apprentices because I’m an apprentice,” Jason shares.
Now that Jason has taken his own certifications and knows the variety of credentials SACA provides, he uses them as a planning tool to shape his courses at WCTC. SACA helps him align labs, lectures, and assessments with the exact skills students will need in the field. This approach gives students a clear path toward earning certifications while they learn, and it ensures that every lesson connects directly to real-world outcomes.
And because WCTC has a transfer agreement with UW-Stout, Jason’s students also have a clear pathway to an Automation Leadership degree if they want to continue their education.
Tyler Solberg, Jason’s son, had also started the Automation Leadership program at the same time as Jason and was able to transfer 19 credits into the program from his dual enrollment at Oconomowoc High School.
For his capstone project, Jason worked with Tyler and another classmate, Wesley Lidwin, to complete a multi-year project to develop a coil winding training station for Eaton. Jason often conducts training bootcamps for Eaton employees, and Eaton offered $350,000 to fund Jason’s leadership of the new training program.
[A look at the coil training line at Eaton coordinated by Jason and his team.]
Dr. Ding oversees Jason’s capstone project and predicts the training Jason coordinated will have a continued impact on Eaton beyond this first project. “[The coil training line] impacted the whole culture of that facility. It transferred from a semi-automated or manual operation to a fully automated production. So, they have a more competitive edge compared to competitors nationally and internationally.”
Jason and Tyler’s journeys show how SACA certifications create real opportunities for learners at every stage, from high school students just starting out to seasoned professionals with years of experience. While Tyler used dual-enrollment credits to begin his degree early, Jason converted decades of hands-on expertise into college credit through performance-based certifications. Each took a different path, but both will end up in the same destination as they walk the graduation stage together this spring.
Whether students are just starting out or bringing years of experience to the table, SACA helps them build meaningful skills that connect directly to the workplace. It turns learning into progress, and progress into possibility.
Learn more about Jason’s capstone project here.
Find the current offerings of SACA certifications here.
Learn more about the Automation Leadership degree here.
- Published in News
Are Smart Robots the Future of the Supply Chain?
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, how often did you think about where the products you buy were manufactured? For certain, some people have always been interested in buying products made in America. However, most people have historically given little thought to where things are made or how they find their way to the United States.
Of course, all that changed during the pandemic. As store shelves emptied and new automobiles got stockpiled while waiting for electronic components, everyone around the world became painfully aware of the intricacies of the supply chain and how truly global the economy had become.
One of the many outcomes of the pandemic was a renewed focus on making the American supply chain more efficient and resilient. Not surprisingly, many links in the supply chain turned to advanced automation technologies to address issues that had come to light during the pandemic.
In terms of automating warehouses, in particular, smart robots quickly became a go-to solution for many organizations. Over the past couple of years, more and more human workers have learned to work alongside robotic counterparts. Experts believe this trend is likely to continue. In fact, some believe that future supply chain managers may oversee more smart robots than human beings.
In a recent Material Handling & Logistics article, the author cites a recent study by Gartner, Inc. that predicts that “[e]ighty percent of humans will engage with smart robots on a daily basis, and one in 20 supply chain managers will manage robots, rather than humans, by 2030.”
The article points out that “[o]rganizations are placing greater emphasis on enhancing the capabilities of their existing workforce by supplementing with robotics due to factors like labor scarcity and rising costs,” making smart robots “an important investment area.”
The growth in implementation of smart robots reveals that many, if not most, companies are indeed choosing to invest in these new technologies. At the same time, though, these organizations also need to be investing in their human assets, as many chief supply chain officers “acknowledge their organization lacks internal robotics expertise to maximally leverage these innovative technologies.”
Supply chain experts know that, “as fleets grow and companies embrace varied robotics use cases, establishing a management structure to oversee robotics operations becomes essential.” Finding those managers with the knowledge and hands-on skills to effectively manage these advanced automation technologies will become the new challenge.
Companies will likely need to hire new skilled workers or upskill current workers to make the most of increasing automation technologies. How can you be sure a worker has the advanced automation skills needed to excel in the workplace of the future? Many companies look for workers with industry-standard certifications that prove they have the hands-on skills employers need.
The Smart Automation Certification Alliance (SACA) has been hard at work collaborating with industry leaders to develop a wide variety of industry-standard certifications that will help employers find workers who possess the advanced connected-systems skills they need to take their businesses to the next level.
For example, SACA’s Certified Industry 4.0 Robotics Specialist certification confirms that certified individuals can succeed as a robotics technician in modern production environments that use Industry 4.0 technologies. This certification verifies that individuals can install, program, test, interface, and maintain industrial robot systems and workcells. SACA offers a wide variety of other industry-standard certifications focused on advanced automation technologies and related skills. Be sure to check out SACA and all it has to offer!
- Published in News
Manufacturing Advice: Trust No One
What’s the key to long-term sustainability and success as a manufacturer? Some would argue that it’s trust. If a manufacturer gains the trust of the users of its products—and keeps that trust over time—it can go a long way to weathering nearly any storm that might come its way.
But is trust a two-way street? At least when it comes to cybersecurity and the protection of valuable intellectual property and technological assets, experts agree that the answer is a resounding “No!” In fact, cybersecurity experts have three words of advice for modern manufacturers: “Trust no one.”
As author Ramsés Gallego notes in a recent Smart Industry article, “[d]igital transformation has brought us AI, digital twins, and IoT—all built for productivity—but when trust is misplaced or unverified, the consequences can be severe and expensive.”
In the past, information technology staff have set up security measures as if a manufacturer’s internal network is a castle to be defended. In this type of model, “anyone or anything inside the perimeter was assumed safe,” points out Gallego.
Unfortunately, such a model is now outdated, because “but today’s factories are no longer isolated silos of machines.” Instead, “[m]anufacturing has become a hyperconnected ecosystem where IT and OT systems share data, AI automates decisions, digital twins simulate entire operations, and third-party devices plug directly into production lines. Every connection is a potential entry point, and attackers know it.”
That’s why “[m]anufacturing is now the most targeted industry for ransomware, accounting for up to 29% of reported attacks, according to CheckPoint Research. And this isn’t just about data loss—when OT systems are compromised, the impact is often physical and immediate. Think shutdowns, broken supply chains, or even nationwide disruption,” notes Gallego.
What approach should manufacturers take to protect themselves? Experts now recommend a zero trust cybersecurity framework. And it’s based upon a simple principle: “never trust, always verify.” The assumption underlying this framework is that “everything—human or machine—can be compromised.”
Does this seem cynical? Perhaps, but Gallego concludes that it’s “the only safe assumption…in an environment where uptime and safety are paramount.” Moreover, it’s important to remember that, when it comes to manufacturing systems, “the consequences [of a cybersecurity breach] can be severe, threatening worker well-being, product quality and even public safety.”
So, what does a zero trust framework look like for a modern manufacturer’s IT team? “Remember learning the question words at school: who, what, when, where, why, which? In a zero-trust environment, every user, device and application must answer those questions, every time, before they’re granted access.”
Managing such an approach is no simple task. Modern manufacturing facilities can include “thousands of interconnected systems controlling machinery—from factory robots, to power grids, to all the hardware and software that monitors and controls devices, processes and infrastructure.”
Finding the right people to properly secure manufacturing networks is paramount. Effective cybersecurity implementation may require manufacturers to add more technology experts to their teams. Personnel with hands-on experience with advanced automation technologies used in manufacturing will play a key role.
It’s critical for manufacturers to hire highly skilled workers that can manage cybersecurity risks, in addition to operating, maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing the advanced automation systems that are being implemented. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing “skills gap” issue in the manufacturing sector, finding highly skilled workers remains a significant challenge.
How can manufacturers find the workers they need? And how can they be sure that workers have the hands-on skills they need to succeed in the modern workplace? Today, more and more manufacturers are looking for workers with industry-standard certifications that prove they have the skills employers need.
For example, if workers possess a certification from the Smart Automation Certification Alliance (SACA), employers can feel confident they’ve already proven they have the knowledge and hands-on skills needed for working with advanced smart automation technologies. SACA has been hard at work collaborating with industry leaders to develop a wide variety of industry-standard certifications that will help employers find workers who possess the advanced connected-systems skills they need to take their businesses to the next level. Be sure to check out SACA and all it has to offer!
- Published in News
Automation Essential for Reshoring Manufacturing
Made in USA: those three words bring forth a swell of pride in hundreds of thousands of manufacturing workers across the nation. Over time, though, those words have appeared on fewer products as the United States has become an integral part of a truly global marketplace.
Long gone are the days when American factories produced the majority of goods consumed within its borders. As international trade grew, industries learned that other countries could sometimes offer cheaper labor and sometimes even better technology.
The very nature of the capitalism Americans love rewards industries for maximizing profits by outsourcing production around the world. Indeed, many economists see free and open international trade as the ideal. However, offshoring manufacturing can have consequences.
For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, shortages and long wait times became problematic as supply chains were strained to their breaking point. Auto manufacturers, in particular, became acutely aware of the problem of having no domestic source of the advanced semiconductors they needed to power the electronics that fill modern vehicles.
In the wake of the pandemic, renewed calls for reshoring manufacturing were heard loud and clear across the country. Have those calls been answered? Where does the reshoring movement stand currently? Will the Trump administration’s on-again, off-again trade policies centered on tariffs spark increased reshoring? Or is there another key to making it happen?
In a recent Manufacturing Dive article , author Søren Peters argues that, while the impact of tariffs is uncertain, “sustainable manufacturing success depends on the competitive advantage that automation delivers.” In fact, he notes that “the reshoring movement has been underway for years — even before the recent tariff announcements.”
He cites recent statistics that show reshoring began years ago and has been spurred on by increasing use of advanced automation technologies. Peters writes, “Look at the numbers: In 2023, more than 287,000 US manufacturing jobs were announced from reshoring and foreign direct investments — a 26-fold increase from 2010, according to the Reshoring Initiative’s annual report. This growth parallels an 88% increase in industrial robots operating in the U.S. between 2013-2023, as reported by the International Federation of Robotics.”
Regarding tariffs, Peters questions their efficacy: “While tariffs could accelerate the reshoring trend, manufacturers are generally cautious. Companies are reluctant to base major reshoring decisions on potentially fluctuating tariffs. Production relocations require years of planning and substantial investment. Companies need permanent competitive advantages, not temporary policy shifts.”
Peters concludes that “[t]his is precisely why automation must be central to any serious reshoring strategy… While trade policies shift, it is the industry’s own ability to compete that makes reshoring sustainable — and for that, automation is the foundation.”
Why is automation so critical to the reshoring effort? Peters notes that “[t]he most immediate obstacle to rapid reshoring is workforce capacity.” There simply aren’t enough manufacturing workers to fill available positions right now, let alone to staff numerous new facilities resulting from reshoring.
Fortunately, new automation technologies have taken some of the pressure off, allowing the U.S. manufacturing sector to continue increasing production capacity even with fewer workers. That might not last long, though, because those new automation technologies also contribute to an ongoing problem: the automation skills gap.
New automation technologies can take up some of the slack of having too few workers, but manufacturers now need more workers with more advanced skills who can operate, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair these new technologies. So where will they find the workers?
As companies embrace new technologies, they will often need to either upskill current workers or hire new workers with the advanced automation technology skills they require. If hiring new workers ends up being part of their automation implementation plan, manufacturers should look for candidates with industry-standard credentials that prove they already possess the advanced automation skills needed to thrive.
For example, if workers possess a certification from the Smart Automation Certification Alliance (SACA), employers can feel confident they’ve already proven they have the knowledge and hands-on skills needed for working with advanced smart automation technologies.
SACA has been hard at work collaborating with industry leaders to develop a wide variety of industry-standard certifications that will help employers find workers who possess the advanced connected-systems skills they need to take their businesses to the next level. Be sure to check out SACA and all it has to offer!
- Published in News
Manufacturers Prefer Practicality When It Comes to Robots
Humans have been fascinated with robots since the days of the old Jetsons cartoons. Back in those days, flying your car home from work to your home in the sky seemed like it might be possible by 2025. But alas, cars still don’t fly. Robots that clean your floors, though, have become reality, so not all is lost.
Today, robots take many forms. Kids in grade school commonly work on simple robots in the classroom. Robot vacuum cleaners and even robot lawnmowers can be found in homes across the country. The most common place for humans to interact with robots, though, is at work.
Robots represent one of the most common types of advanced automation technology that has transformed industry, especially in a sector like manufacturing. From robot dogs that help improve preventive maintenance to humanoid robots that mimic not only human abilities, but also the human form, robots have become ubiquitous throughout modern manufacturing.
So, what’s the go-to robot for most manufacturers? Those who have long feared humans being replaced by robots might worry that humanoid robots fit that bill perfectly. However, experts note that manufacturers thus far seem to prefer function over form.
According to a recent Reuters article by Akash Sriram, specialist robots have captured the attention of manufacturers: “their ability to do single tasks cheaply and efficiently is attracting investor dollars as focus shifts to function from flash.”
Specialist robots are not “the sleek humanoids of science fiction that are meant for complex and adaptive work.” To the contrary, these “boxy and utilitarian robots – some the size of industrial tool chests – are built to handle tasks such as hauling parts, collecting trash or inspecting equipment.”
Their popularity stems from the fact that “they offer a clear path to profitability, given the stress on automation across industries, including retail, defense and waste management.” This is a stark contrast to humanoid robots that “are still grappling with technical challenges, including limited training data and difficulty operating in unpredictable real-world environments.”
While more complex humanoid robots may become more popular in time, current funding reveals that specialist robots will continue to dominate manufacturing facilities for the foreseeable future. “Data from PitchBook shows robotics companies globally raised $2.26 billion in the first quarter of 2025, with more than 70% of that capital funneled into firms making task-focused machines.”
Another key factor supporting the popularity of specialist robots is cost: “[t]he cost of humanoids is also far higher than task-specific robots. Components such as cameras and lidar sensors can push manufacturing costs for humanoid robots to between $50,000 and $200,000 per unit, compared with $5,000 to $100,000 for task-specific machines.”
Regardless of what type of robot any manufacturer chooses, it’s clear that companies will need to hire new skilled workers or upskill current workers to make the most of these new advanced automation technologies.
How can you be sure a worker has the advanced automation skills needed to excel in the workplace of the future? Many companies look for workers with industry-standard certifications that prove they have the hands-on skills employers need.
The Smart Automation Certification Alliance (SACA) has been hard at work collaborating with industry leaders to develop a wide variety of industry-standard certifications that will help employers find workers who possess the advanced connected-systems skills they need to take their businesses to the next level.
For example, SACA’s Certified Industry 4.0 Robotics Specialist certification confirms that certified individuals can succeed as a robotics technician in modern production environments that use Industry 4.0 technologies. This certification verifies that individuals can install, program, test, interface, and maintain industrial robot systems and workcells. SACA offers a wide variety of other industry-standard certifications focused on advanced automation technologies and related skills. Be sure to check out SACA and all it has to offer!
- Published in News
Creating a Digital Roadmap for U.S. Manufacturing
In today’s technology-driven world, how you think about the task of navigating from Point A to Point B can reveal a lot about your age and the time in which you grew up. If you can read a paper map or ever used printed Mapquest directions to find your way to a destination, then it may be time for your annual colonoscopy.
Nowadays getting somewhere you’ve never been is as easy as asking Siri for directions and following the step-by-step instructions in your map app. While the technology in your smartphone might guide you to an address, it unfortunately won’t be much help if your destination isn’t quite as tangible as a physical location.
For example, a small- to medium-sized manufacturer (SMM) hoping to transform its operations with advanced automation technologies will need more than Siri and an iPhone. The digital manufacturing landscape is evolving rapidly and navigating it can be daunting, leaving many leaders of SMMs asking “Anybody have a map?”
Fortunately, the answer to that question is “yes” and the organization with the map(s) is known as MxD or The Digital Manufacturing and Cybersecurity Institute. According to a recent 3D Printing Industry article by Ada Shaikhnag, MxD “has released its Strategic Investment Plan (SIP) for 2025-2027, presenting a detailed roadmap to bolster the competitiveness, resilience, and cybersecurity of U.S. manufacturing.”
MxD’s SIP, “[s]haped by insights from manufacturers, technology providers, academic institutions, and government partners,…lays out a targeted investment strategy in digital engineering, factory modernization, supply chain resilience, and workforce development.”
By focusing on things like “digital engineering and design, future factory systems, supply chain visibility, and cybersecurity integration,” MxD intends to “address persistent challenges within the industrial base, particularly among…SMMs…that often lack the resources needed to adopt and scale digital manufacturing solutions.”
So, what should SMMs be keeping in mind as they look to incorporate advanced automation technologies? Here are a few key areas of focus according to MxD:
- Data Lifecycle
MxD developed “a technical framework called the data lifecycle…[that] maps the flow of data across the various stages of a product’s lifecycle, from development and manufacturing to deployment and support.” MxD believes “seamless data movement and high-fidelity data collection…are vital for unlocking capabilities such as predictive maintenance, quality control, and secure information sharing throughout supply chains.” - Interoperability and Data Standards
According to Shaikhnag, “MxD is working on a…[p]laybook to consolidate and harmonize data standards used by manufacturers. This effort addresses the challenge of fragmented data formats and standards across different systems, which can hinder consistent data flows and semantic interoperability. - Future Factory Development
MxD has its eyes on the factories of the future and its “projects in this area aim to build digital environments that support real-time process optimization, data-driven decision-making, and production lines that can adapt quickly to disruptions and new customer demands. Initiatives around digital twins, 5G/6G integration, and cybersecurity best practices will help shape these future factories.” - Cybersecurity
In addition to its other digital focuses, MxD serves as “the National Center for Cybersecurity in Manufacturing. With manufacturing identified as the most targeted sector for cyberattacks in recent years, MxD’s cybersecurity projects aim to enhance protections for both operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT) environments.”
As manufacturers prepare for an increasingly digital future, MxD also believes that “workforce initiatives [are] critical, noting that 1.9 million manufacturing jobs could remain unfilled by 2033 without targeted upskilling efforts.” To that end, MxD offers “advanced role-based training programs in data analytics, cybersecurity, and extended reality applications” as part of its Virtual Training Center.
In addition to upskilling current workers, it’s critical for manufacturers to hire highly skilled workers that can manage cybersecurity risks, in addition to operating, maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing the advanced automation systems that are being implemented. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing “skills gap” issue in the manufacturing sector, finding highly skilled workers remains a significant challenge.
How can manufacturers find the workers they need? And how can they be sure that workers have the hands-on skills they need to succeed in the modern workplace? Today, more and more manufacturers are looking for workers with industry-standard certifications that prove they have the skills employers need.
For example, if workers possess a certification from the Smart Automation Certification Alliance (SACA), employers can feel confident they’ve already proven they have the knowledge and hands-on skills needed for working with advanced smart automation technologies.
SACA has been hard at work collaborating with industry leaders to develop a wide variety of industry-standard certifications that will help employers find workers who possess the advanced connected-systems skills they need to take their businesses to the next level. Be sure to check out SACA and all it has to offer!
- Published in News
SACA & Vincennes University to Host Cobot Credential Development Work Group
The Smart Automation Certification Alliance (SACA) is pleased to announce that it is partnering with the Vincennes University Center for Applied Robotics & Automation to host an exclusive Credential Development Work Group meeting on July 16th, 2025, in Lebanon, Indiana.
WHO IS IT FOR?
We’re inviting top professionals and innovators in advanced manufacturing to join us in crafting a credential that meets the real-world demands of modern industry with a key focus on Collaborative Robotics and Connected Workspaces. Your input will directly influence the development of a nationally-recognized, occupation-specific certification that reflects the evolving needs of a smart manufacturing workforce.
WHAT IS THE NEED?
Are you struggling to find workers for your open positions? Are you investing in automation and now need to upskill/reskill your employees? Do you want a workplace culture where people seek to learn, grow their skills and stick around long-term?
Discover how industrial employers are hiring, training, and retaining highly-skilled workers using micro-credentials from the Smart Automation Certification Alliance
- Learn about the only Industry 4.0 certifications developed by employers, for employers
- Get a roadmap to align highly-targeted micro-credentials with the exact skills incumbent workers in your company need
- Discover how to recruit SACA-certified employees graduating from advanced manufacturing programs
Interested? Here are the details:
SACA & Vincennes University Cobot Credential Development Work Group
July 16, 2025
Gene Haas Training and Education Center
316 N Mt Zion Rd, Lebanon, IN 46052
Click here to download a flyer with more information.
Plan to attend? RSVP here.
About SACA
SACA sits at the forefront of the effort to certify students and workers who demonstrate the required knowledge and hands-on smart automation skills employers so desperately need. SACA’s certifications were developed in conjunction with industry partners who could speak from experience about their needs when it comes to workers able to work alongside a variety of advanced automation technologies.
SACA offers a wide variety of certifications in popular industrial skill areas, including certifications at the Associate, Specialist, and Professional level. For those wishing to focus on building a strong foundation of skills employers need, SACA also offers many micro-credentials that allow students and workers to add certifications as they master new areas.
For workers, SACA certifications can help market their smart automation skills to potential employers. For those employers, SACA certifications represent confirmation that a worker has the skills to hit the ground running in the workplace. To learn more about Industry 4.0 certifications and how SACA can help both future workers and industrial employers begin the task of bridging the Industry 4.0 skills gap, contact SACA for more information.
- Published in News
Robots and Cobots Finding Niche in Food Manufacturing
Manufacturers across the country and around the world share many of the same challenges in today’s fast-paced technological workplace. There’s always pressure to increase productivity and efficiency while struggling to manage labor shortages and a lack of enough skilled workers.
In the food and beverage industry, manufacturers must also stay on top of myriad regulations covering food safety. Like other manufacturers in adjacent industries, food and beverage manufacturers are increasingly turning to advanced automation technologies, like robots and cobots, to tackle the issues they face.
According to a recent Food Engineering article by Grant Gerke, “[c]obot and robot applications and overall automation investments in food plants have been vital to stemming ubiquitous workforce retention issues, overcoming limited space in food plants and increasing throughput.”
Gerke predicts “the next five years will see more innovation and expansion with cobot and robot applications, including delta pick-and-place product stations, mobile work cells and even autonomous mobile robot (AMR) technology at larger plants.”
For example, the author points out a new Tyson food production facility in Virgina that “features high-speed automated case packing lines and high-speed robotic case palletizing units.” Gerke insists “the robust trend of food companies eliminating plants, reorganizing and investing in automation and smart manufacturing plants isn’t going away.”
What’s driving the automation push? In many cases, it’s the ongoing skills gap problem that has left many manufacturers with a persistent labor shortage. According to Universal Robots’ Chris Savoia, “[e]mployee retention is one of the most significant factors driving the adoption of cobots in secondary packaging. The high turnover rates and difficulty recruiting and training staff for repetitive, labor-intensive jobs have forced many companies to reconsider their approach.”
Of course, humans are still an integral piece of the food and beverage manufacturing puzzle. As more and more advanced automation technologies are implemented, even more highly skilled workers are needed to install, operate, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair these systems.
Unfortunately, finding highly skilled workers remains a significant challenge. How can employers find the workers they need? And how can they be sure that workers have the hands-on skills they need to succeed in the modern workplace? Today, more and more employers are looking for workers with industry-standard certifications that prove they have the skills needed.
For example, if workers possess a certification from the Smart Automation Certification Alliance (SACA), employers can feel confident they’ve already proven they have the knowledge and hands-on skills needed for working with advanced smart automation technologies. SACA has been hard at work collaborating with industry leaders to develop a wide variety of industry-standard certifications that will help employers find workers who possess the advanced connected-systems skills they need to take their businesses to the next level. Be sure to check out SACA and all it has to offer!
- Published in News
Connected Factories Need Humans More Than Ever
In recent weeks, manufacturing has once again been a popular topic of conversation amidst the Trump administration’s on-again/off-again tariff announcements. Proponents of tariffs believe they will force companies to reshore manufacturing that has been previously moved overseas.
However, people familiar with the current state of manufacturing in the United States know things aren’t nearly as simple as they’re made to seem on the news. Already facing an ongoing skills gap that has left more than a half-million manufacturing jobs unfilled, where will manufacturers find even more workers to fill new factories?
Many Americans do agree that it would be a good thing if there were more manufacturing workers in the U.S. However, far fewer people think manufacturing would be a good fit for themselves personally. This lasting negative impression of manufacturing as a career choice is one of the primary contributing factors to the ongoing skills gap plaguing manufacturers across the country.
Over the past couple of decades, American manufacturers have attempted to deal with the skills gap in a variety of ways. For example, many manufacturers have invested heavily in advanced automation technologies that can increase productivity and efficiency while reducing the need for human workers in certain types of jobs. These facilities feature “connected systems” technologies that create what many refer to as a “smart factory” environment.
This use of robots and other automation technologies has led some to worry that human workers would be completely displaced by technology one day. To the contrary, though, many of these technologies are merely taking the place of workers that couldn’t be found in the first place. For those who worry about robots replacing humans, new research should give them comfort that human beings in the workplace will always be necessary…and even more so in the age of advanced automation.
A DC Velocity article summarizes recent research by Gartner, which found that a “human-centric strategy is key to operating the ‘connected factory.’” “According to Gartner, connected factory workers use digital tools and data management techniques to improve how work is done in factories. That access to new knowledge and technology reduces variability, decentralizes decisions, and proliferates knowledge.”
Although the focus is often on the technology being implemented, Gartner “emphasizes the role of the connected factory worker in the advancement of an overall smart manufacturing strategy…The connected factory worker can serve as a strategic pillar in supporting an organization’s aim of localizing manufacturing and expanding capacity.”
As manufacturers navigate the complex pathway of combining advanced automation technologies with highly skilled workers who can install, operate, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair these systems, finding the right type of workers who can thrive alongside technology will be paramount.
“Successful implementation of these initiatives is key to overcoming labor shortages, revitalizing the frontline workforce and reinventing the employee value proposition in manufacturing for a new generation.”
Involving workers in the decision-making process early can be beneficial. “In the near-term, they can achieve operational cost savings, while in the longer-term they may gain strategic benefits centered on enhancing the employee experience, upskilling talent, and creating new organizational roles that will appeal to and engage the next generation of workers.”
So where do these connected factory workers come from? As companies embrace new technologies, they will often need to either upskill current workers or hire new workers with the advanced automation technology skills they require.
If hiring new workers ends up being part of their automation implementation plan, manufacturers should look for candidates with industry-standard credentials that prove they already possess the advanced automation skills needed to thrive.
For example, if workers possess a certification from the Smart Automation Certification Alliance (SACA), employers can feel confident they’ve already proven they have the knowledge and hands-on skills needed for working with advanced smart automation technologies. SACA has been hard at work collaborating with industry leaders to develop a wide variety of industry-standard certifications that will help employers find workers who possess the advanced connected-systems skills they need to take their businesses to the next level. Be sure to check out SACA and all it has to offer!
- Published in News
