The current state of manufacturing in the United States calls for serious attention and action. For many years, U.S. manufacturers have complained of a shortage of skilled workers--and the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics backs up their concerns. One can place blame for reductions in American manufacturing on many things, but certainly the lack of properly skilled workers results in reduced product quality and availability. As a result of these concerns, some American manufacturers have come together to create the National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS). It's an organization that career and technical education (CTE) instructors who are involved in educating tomorrow's manufacturing professionals should be aware of--and welcome into their programs. Founded in 1995, and accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), NIMS is dedicated to the creation of effective standards for manufacturing technology education. While NIMS accreditation can turn a CTE program or tech school into a "world class" operation, only a small number of American secondary schools have achieved NIMS accreditation. The author stresses that achieving NIMS certification ensures that tech programs will give students the skills and knowledge they need to land good-paying jobs in manufacturing.