Tooling U-SME, formerly Tooling University, is an American non-profit

educational technology Educational technology (commonly abbreviated as edutech, or edtech) is the combined use of computer hardware, software, and educational theory and practice to facilitate learning. When referred to with its abbreviation, edtech, it often refer ...

and

blended learning Norm Friesen (born March 21, 1966) is Professor in Educational Technology at Boise State University. Norm Friesen studied German Literature, Secondary Education, and Communication at the Johns Hopkins University, University of Alberta and Simon Fr ...

organization that produces

learning management system A learning management system (LMS) is a software application for the administration, documentation, tracking, reporting, automation, and delivery of educational courses, training programs, materials or learning and development programs. The learni ...

software, certifications and content for the manufacturing industry. Owned by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) and headquartered in

Cleveland Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U.S. ...

Ohio Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...

, Tooling U provides online industrial manufacturing training, development, and competency based apprenticeship programs.

History

Tooling University, the original online training component of Tooling U-SME, was founded to address the shortage of skilled workers in the manufacturing industry. Tooling U began as a division of Jergens Inc., a workholding and tooling component manufacturer founded in 1942. In 2010, Tooling University was acquired by

SME SME may refer to: Economics * Small and medium-sized enterprises * Socialist market economy, an economic system of China Organizations Music * SME Limited, UK audio turntable manufacturer * Sony Music Entertainment, US * Spontaneous Music Ensembl ...

. Since the acquisition, Tooling U-SME has spent recent years uniting all of its training products, launching service offering upgrades, and providing niche learning services for specific jobs like welding. The company has also been awarded multiple grants from US government institutions like the

Department of Defense Department of Defence or Department of Defense may refer to: Current departments of defence * Department of Defence (Australia) * Department of National Defence (Canada) * Department of Defence (Ireland) * Department of National Defense (Philipp ...

and the

Department of Labor The Ministry of Labour ('' UK''), or Labor ('' US''), also known as the Department of Labour, or Labor, is a government department responsible for setting labour standards, labour dispute mechanisms, employment, workforce participation, training, a ...

to develop training programs that support the development of America's workforce in manufacturing.

Competency Framework

In early 2014 Tooling U-SME launched the Competency Framework for achieving manufacturing excellence. The Competency Framework is made up of more than 60 job competency models in nine manufacturing functional areas. Each competency model outlines knowledge and skill objectives for production workers, technicians, lead technicians and technologists, and engineers.

Products and Services

Tooling U-SME supplies manufacturers, high schools and technical colleges with in-house and online training resources that are translatable to both certificate programs and associate degrees. Students can choose from over 70 instructor-led programs, and have 24/7 access to more than 450 online courses, covering everything from safety and maintenance to composites and machining.

Custom Training Content

Custom in-house training and educational content for schools and organizations.

Assessments

Online assessments for evaluating current workforce skills and developing training programs based on filling the gaps.

Certifications

Industry-backed certifications for lean manufacturing technology, machining technology, advanced manufacturing, and manufacturing engineering, as well as certificate programs for green manufacturing. Tooling U-SME training courses adhere to the National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) Standards,

Certified Manufacturing Technologist (CMfgT) certification, Manufacturing Skills Standards Council (MSSC) standards and American Welding Society (AWS) SENSE Level 1 standard.

Online bookstore and Knowledge Edge®

Knowledge Edge is a subscription service digital library with more than 700 industrial training videos and clips, 1,200 eBooks and eChapters, 16,000 technical papers and 10,000 entries in the Manufacturing Knowledge Base wiki.

References

{{reflist * * * * Companies based in Cleveland Educational institutions established in 1942 SME (society) 1942 establishments in Ohio