The project was based on three assumptions:1. Working biographies are increasingly characterized by changing activities, which may also be seen as gaining a wide range of competencies. Certificates attained in the past do often not provide sufficient information, other competencies are documented insufficiently and somewhat unconsciously especially whenever informal knowledge is concerned.2. Consequently, employees and employers are frequently insufficiently informed about the actual competencies of the workforce.3. In the future, employees will work longer throughout their lives, which will make it necessary to maintain their competencies for longer than previously expected and required. Lifelong learning is a key to maintain and increase the competencies of employees.The COMET project aimed to provide small to medium-sized companies in the processing sector with a tool (including a manual) that is based on, and refers to national and European standards of qualifications and defines those for its requirements to identify the competencies of employees – particularly of those with lower levels of formal qualification – and use the outcomes as a basis for planning further occupational development.The model of the tool was produced by the Danish project partner and is to be taken out of its original situationally and thematically restricted context and transferred to all sectors, occupations and European countries.