National Institute for

Metalworking Skills

Introduction
The National Institute for Metalworking Skills,
Inc. is a nonprofit organization formed to
support the development of a skilled workforce
for the metalworking industry. NIMS was
Incorporated in 1995.

NIMS primary activities include:

developing, writing, validating, and maintaining skill

standards for each industry;

certifying the skills of individuals against the skill

standards;

accrediting training programs that train to the skill

standards and meet NIMS quality requirements;

assisting states, schools, and companies to form

partnerships to implement the skill standards,
achieve program accreditation, and certify the skills
of trainees and workers.

NIMS Stakeholders

American Machine Tool Distributors Association

Association for Manufacturing Technology
National Tooling and Machining Association
Precision Machined Products Association
Precision Metalforming Association
Tooling and Manufacturing Association

Credentialing Framework for

Careers in Metalworking
Fifty-four ( 54 ) Skill Credentials available in
Four ( 4 ) Occupational Areas:
Machining Occupations
Metalforming Occupations
Tool and Die Occupations
Machine Building and Maintenance
Occupations

National Skill Competitions that have

adopted NIMS Standards in Contest
Specifications:
Automated Manufacturing
Technology
CNC Milling
CNC Turning
Precision Machining Technology

NIMS Chairs the Precision Machining

Technology Completion

Metalworking Industrys Skill Standards Development

Step 1
NIMS Board
authorizes
development
for an industry/
occupational
cluster

Step 2
Appropriate trade
association forms
Technical
Workgroup
(employers,
employees,
and educators

Step 3
Technical Workgroup meets (2-4 meetings):
Identify and confirm duty list
Draft dusty statements
Draft performance requirements
Identify KSAOs
Compile all into draft skill standards

Step 4
Regional Validation meetings of employers
and employees form the industry cluster
(3-5 meetings across U.S.)
Critique draft skill standards
Propose changes
Address issues of accuracy and
performance assessment
Step 5
Reconvene Technical Workgroup
Consider changes proposed by Regional
Validation Groups
Revise skill standards
Submit revised skill standards to NIMS
Board

Step 6
NIMS Board
reviews revised
skill standards
Approves as
interim standards
or remands to
Technical
Workgroup for
changes
If approved,
authorized industry
to survey to
validate standards

Step 7
Nationwide Industry
Validation Survey
of Employers and
Employees
Sample of
companies within
industry cluster
Separate survey
instruments for
employers and
employees

Step 8
NIMS Board reviews
Validation Survey
results
Approves validated
standards as Final
Standards for given
occupational cluster
Authorizes
publication of
Final Standards
Step 9
Final edits,
publications and
distribution

Credentialing Program Development Process

Skill Standards
Approved for
Publication
Nine-step process
for development is
completed

Form Voluntary
Development
Committee
Test Developer
Companies
Trade Association
Educator

Determine
Credentialing
Clusters
Determine
clusters for
credentialing
Decide approach
to performance
assessment

Set guidelines for

Test Development
Test structure
Total number of
questions
Question format
Performance
exam options

Develop
Performance
Evaluation
Procedures
Develop
Procedures
Develop log
books or part
prints

Pilot the
Performance
Evaluation
Procedures
Identify pilot sites
Conduct pilots

Revise Procedures,
if Necessary
Written Test
Development
Array all topics
based on the skill
standards
Determine the
importance of each
topic
Allocate number of
question to topic
Draft questions
Compile and examine
redundancies

Validate Written Test

Evaluate for reading
level
Evaluate for language
bias
Identify pilot test sites
Conduct pilot tests to
time and validate each
test item

Analyze Validation
Results
Item analyses
Analyses by participant
categories and
geography
Rewrite test items
where necessary
Set cut scores

Validated Procedures and

Credentialing Examinations
Draft Registration Process,
Credentialing Procedures
and Exam Protocols
NIMS Board
Review all procedures
Approve for use as industry
recognized credentialing exams
and procedures

3 Step NIMS
Credentialing Process
1) Registration
One time fee, on-line

2) Produce Part 100% to Print Specs

Reviewed by MET-TEC
Performance Affidavit

3) Take On-line Theory Exam

Machining Competency
Turning Performance Example

MET-TEC

Committee of voluntary reps from

area industry
Minimum 3 members
Evaluates parts made by credentialing
candidates to insure all print
specifications are within allowable
tolerances
Complete Performance Affidavit

NIMS Online Test System

Sample Test Page

Perkins Performance Measures

National Competency-Based
Apprenticeship System
U.S. Department of Labor
Employment & Training
Administration

Integrate national industry standards

with apprenticeship training
Incorporate standards-based
competency assessments with
apprenticeship training

National Competency-Based
Apprenticeship System

Industry Defined Requirements

Consistent Measurable Outcomes
Industry Defined Skill Standards
Benchmarks
Career Web
Defined Prerequisite Skills
Step-by-Step Improvement and
Recognition
Alignment with Higher-Level
Occupations

For More Information

National Institute for Metalworking Skills
James Wall
Executive Director
10565 Fairfax Blvd.
Fairfax, VA 22030
703.352.4971
www.nims-skills.org