Ohio continues to lead the nation in manufacturing, with billions of dollars in public and private investment flowing into both legacy industries, Automotive, Industrial Products, Aerospace & Defense, and rapidly growing sectors like Electric Vehicles, Batteries, and Biomanufacturing. As this growth accelerates, so does the need for a workforce equipped with the right skills to support it.
To help meet that demand, the Ohio Life Sciences Association, JobsOhio, and the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) came together to launch the Biomanufacturing Competency Model Initiative, a collaborative effort designed to build a common language between employers and educators and strengthen workforce development across the manufacturing sector.
Creating a Common Language for Workforce Development
Over the past nine weeks, manufacturers, educators, and workforce leaders across Ohio worked together to shape a demand-driven competency model for biomanufacturing roles. Too often, workforce development efforts happen in parallel, with different industries using different languages to describe the skills and credentials needed for success. This initiative set out to change that, aligning stakeholders around a shared framework that clarifies what “workforce-ready” means and creates more transparent, scalable career pathways for Ohioans.
The model reflects a powerful idea: when industries collaborate, they become force multipliers for the entire manufacturing ecosystem.
Building the Model: Industry-Led and Data-Driven
The competency model development process began with mapping the biomanufacturing value chain and identifying the occupations most relevant to Ohio’s industry. From there, manufacturers participated in three interactive workshops to refine and validate the model:
- Workshop 1: Identified the most critical skills and competencies for success in biomanufacturing roles.
- Workshop 2: Reviewed detailed Knowledge, Skills, and Ability (KSA) statements and differentiated expectations between operator- and technician-level roles.
- Workshop 3: Validated training expectations, distinguishing what should be taught through curriculum versus reinforced on the job.
Throughout the process, the model was built with manufacturers, not for manufacturers, ensuring it reflects real operational and regulatory environments.
A Layered Approach to Manufacturing Talent
The resulting Biomanufacturing Competency Model includes 3 competencies, 11 sub-competencies, 35 topics, and 117 KSA statements, all grounded in employer input.
The model is structured around three primary areas:
- Biomanufacturing Fundamentals – regulatory compliance, documentation, contamination control, and industry-specific foundations
- Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Operations – upstream and downstream processing, formulation, fill-finish, and product release
- Medical Device & Biotech Production Operations – material handling, assembly, packaging, inspection, and release
Importantly, the model builds upon the foundational manufacturing competencies shared across industries, such as safety, troubleshooting, process control, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
In biomanufacturing, however, these base skills must be applied in highly controlled, compliance-driven environments, where contamination control, documentation rigor, and product sensitivity are essential.
Strengthening Ohio’s Biomanufacturing Talent Pipeline
The competency model is already helping align education and training programs with employer needs. For example, Columbus State Community College applied the framework to evaluate its operator and technician programs, mapping coursework against the industry-defined competencies to identify strengths and opportunities for enhancement.
At the same time, JobsOhio is investing $30 million in Ohio’s biomanufacturing workforce, including a state-of-the-art training center designed to prepare operators and technicians for high-demand roles across the industry.
This investment reflects a shared commitment to ensuring that workforce development keeps pace with industry growth, strengthening Ohio’s competitive position as companies continue to expand and invest in the state.
A Living Framework for Ohio’s Manufacturing Future
The competency model is designed to evolve alongside the industry. Moving forward, there will be an annual review process to ensure the framework remains aligned with emerging technologies, regulatory expectations, and employer needs. As more manufacturers engage in the process, the model will continue to strengthen Ohio’s workforce ecosystem, aligning industry, education, and workforce partners around a shared vision.
Thank You to Our Industry Partners
This work would not have been possible without the many manufacturers, educators, and workforce leaders who participated in the workshops and working sessions. Specifically, to these OLS members: Abeona Therapeutics, Andelyn Biosciences, ThermoFisher Scientific, Hikma, Forge Biologics, Resilience, Pharmavite, Amgen, Charles River, Adare, Meridian, and Alkermes.
Your technical insight, candid feedback, and commitment to collaboration helped ensure this model reflects the real workforce needs of Ohio’s biomanufacturing sector.
Together, we are building more than a framework, we are building a stronger, more connected talent pipeline for Ohio’s growing biomanufacturing industry.
