Modernize Your Foundry Training with SMART Standards
Build skills, boost competency, and prepare your
workforce for today’s evolving industrial landscape.
Effective workforce training is critical to the success of any foundry. Relying solely on hands-on experience or informal learning can leave gaps in skills, reduce operational efficiency, and compromise safety. To stay competitive and future-ready, foundries need a structured, purposeful approach to workforce development.
The NFFS Workforce Development Webinar, Introducing SMART Training, led by Montez King, is designed to help foundries modernize their training programs with Smart Training Standards (STS). This practical framework provides a clear path for building consistent, competency-based learning that ensures every employee performs at a high level.
The new economy continues to demand more skilled workers to remain globally competitive. Educational institutions are responding by heavily focusing on technical skills training, and governments are investing millions of dollars to update facilities and infrastructure. Access to these funds is often regulated through accreditation and industry-recognized credentials, resulting in a rise of new and updated training facilities, accredited programs, and credentialed workers across the country.
At first glance, it seems like the workforce skills gap is closing. But despite these efforts, a significant gap remains between the skills employers need and the outcomes of training. One major reason: outdated and static training frameworks are often overlaid on top of advanced technologies. In other words, while facilities and equipment have been modernized, the way we train has not.
Smart Training Standards (STS) is an innovative framework designed to modernize training for an ever-changing economy, where technological advancements continually reshape the workplace. By integrating STS, foundries can develop structured, measurable, and effective training programs that truly prepare employees for today’s challenges.
This training is especially valuable for instructors seeking to integrate STS into their programs. Attendees will learn how to:
- Unbiasedly establish performance standards
- Reliably validate employee performance against these standards
- Determine ideal training principles and behaviors required for effective workforce development
In addition, instructors can earn industry-recognized credentials, further enhancing the credibility and impact of their training programs.
During the webinar, attendees will also:
- Explore the four levels of training maturity and assess where their foundry currently stands
- Learn how STS can transform informal training into a structured, optimized program
- Receive practical guidance for implementing competency-based learning on the shop floor
Understand why adopting STS is essential for quality, safety, and operational excellence
This session is an opportunity for foundry leaders and workforce managers to gain actionable insights that can strengthen skills, enhance productivity, and future-proof their teams.