Labor

  • 2026 Toyota Tacoma SR5, in motion
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    Courtesy of Toyota
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    Toyota plans Tacoma truck production in Texas with $3.6B expansion

    The automaker won’t yet say what portion of U.S.-bound Tacomas will shift from Mexico after the buildout, but the company plans to double its San Antonio factory footprint by 2030.

    By Bengt Halvorson • July 8, 2026
  • A person wearing ear protection, eyeglasses and gloves using a machine to shape heated steel.
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    Getty Images
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    Manufacturing industry gained 3,000 jobs in June

    Adjusted data shows the industry lost 3,000 jobs combined in April and May as manufacturers eased on staffing amid tariffs and interest rate uncertainty.

    By • July 6, 2026
  • Sparks come off an industrial machine in a factory Explore the Trendline➔
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    Trendline

    Navigating Manufacturing Compliance Trends

    Manufacturers must manage a quickly evolving landscape of regulations for packaging, chemicals, labor and more.

    By Manufacturing Dive staff
  • A person stands on a stage next to a podium with a blue background that says "Automate."
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    Katie Pyzyk/Manufacturing Dive
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    Cobots become simpler, smarter with AI

    Collaborative robots have taken off in recent years as artificial intelligence makes them useful for a wider variety of applications.

    By • July 1, 2026
  • Attendees arrive at the MD&M East manufacturing conference at the Javits Center in New York City in 2025.
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    Courtesy of IME Connect
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    Manufacturing conferences and trade shows to watch in 2026

    Upcoming industry events will showcase the latest products and cover topics ranging from tariff mitigation and automation to workforce retention strategies.

    By Manufacturing Dive Staff • Updated July 1, 2026
  • Robotic technology and vision systems are tested at a new Amazon fulfillment center on August 10, 2017 in Sacramento, California.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Where to start with mobile automation

    Formova’s leadership outlined what companies should consider when transitioning their operations to accommodate automated guided vehicles or mobile robots.

    By • July 1, 2026
  • Attendees at Automate 2026 in Chicago walk the South Hall floor filled with vendor booths and robotics demonstrations.
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    Nathan Owens/Manufacturing Dive
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    Humanoid hype, surging investor capital and the state of industrial robots

    Executives discussed the future of robotics, from bipedal prototypes and increased automation demand to growing accessibility for manufacturers of all sizes.

    By • June 30, 2026
  • A white and blue building, with a parking lot with cars in front of it.
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    Courtesy of Lockheed Martin
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    Lockheed Martin signs $35B DOD contract to quadruple interceptor production

    The weapons maker will produce THAAD missile rounds at its facilities in Texas, California, Arkansas and Alabama. The company is also investing over $9 billion to meet munitions demand through 2030.

    By • June 26, 2026
  • A white, egg-shaped robot with silver and white squiggly arms makes a latte.
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    Nathan Owens//Manufacturing Dive/Manufacturing Dive
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    US robotics installations rebounded in 2025, on track for more growth: IFR

    Bolstered by automotive and electronics demand, global deployments remain concentrated in China, Japan and South Korea. The U.S. is seeing growing robotics demand from food production and supply chain services.

    By • June 26, 2026
  • A person wearing protective goggles and their hair in a ponytail working on a machine.
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    Courtesy of IACMI–The Composites Institute
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    IACMI expanding 2 DOD-funded workforce development programs nationwide

    The Manufacturing USA institute aims to establish the ACE and METAL initiatives at 53 universities, colleges and trade schools by 2030, with funding from the agency’s Office of Industrial Base Policy.

    By • June 24, 2026
  • A Lucid Gravity electric SUV parked outdoors with greenery in the background.
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    Courtesy of Lucid Group
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    Lucid Motors laying off 18% of US workforce, COO resigns

    The layoffs follow a 12% reduction of the company’s workforce in February following the launch of the Gravity SUV, its second model. 

    By • June 24, 2026
  • Three people walk past a line of machines in a building.
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    Courtesy of Johnson & Johnson
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    J&J commits $1B to expand contact lens production in Florida

    The investment will add J&J’s manufacturing, packaging and distribution capabilities to meet growing demand for its contact lenses.

    By Nick Paul Taylor • June 16, 2026
  • The JBS logo is displayed
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    Courtesy of JBS
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    JBS to close meat plants in manufacturing reshuffle

    The company plans to lay off at least 2,000 workers as it shutters a Pennsylvania beef processing facility and makes changes at majority-owned Pilgrim’s Pride.

    By Sarah Zimmerman • June 15, 2026
  • A blue and white Lockheed Martin sign on the left of a blue archway that's over a white parking attendant booth.
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    Getty Images
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    Thousands of Dauch, Lockheed Martin workers vote to ratify union contracts

    Nearly 1,000 UAW-represented Dauch workers’ ratified contract ends the two-week strike at the GM supplier’s Michigan plant. About 5,000 IAM-represented Lockheed Martin employees also voted for a new deal on Sunday.

    By • Updated June 15, 2026
  • A person wearing a red shirt and glasses standing behind a podium, with people in red shirts standing in the background.
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    Screenshot: United Auto Workers/YouTube

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    Nearly 1,000 workers to vote on GM, Ford supplier’s proposal to end strike

    Employees represented by UAW Local 2093 will vote Sunday on the proposed contract presented by Dauch Corp., formerly known as American Axle & Manufacturing.

    By • June 11, 2026
  • Left to right: Stacey Weismiller, president and CEO of the American Manufacturing Futures Institute, hosts a panel discussion at New York City's Tech Week with Zach Thomkinson of Standard Bots, Michael Perry of Persona AI, and Paul Lavoie of the University of New Haven.
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    Nathan Owens//Manufacturing Dive/Manufacturing Dive
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    US manufacturers have a technology adoption problem, experts say

    Startup executives and industry advocates at New York City’s Tech Week discussed the challenges behind companies’ digital transformation strategies and where to make improvements.

    By • June 10, 2026
  • A person in black protective gear on a red and black motorcycle parked on a dirt road.
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    Courtesy of Harley-Davidson
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    Harley-Davidson to reshore Revolution Max engine production

    The company will also bring manufacturing of its Pan America, Sportster S and Nightster models, which the engine powers, to its Pennsylvania and Wisconsin facilities as part of its financial recovery and growth strategy. 

    By • June 10, 2026
  • A blue and white Corning sign on a hill, with a large facility and a parking lot in the background.
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    Courtesy of Corning Inc.
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    Amazon, Corning ink multibillion-dollar deal to ramp up fiber optics manufacturing

    The agreement is expected to create 1,000 jobs at Corning’s fiber-optic plants in North Carolina. The two Fortune 500 companies will also develop a new workforce program with Catawba Valley Community College in Hickory.

    By • June 9, 2026
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    Drew Angerer via Getty Images
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    US Steel doubles investment to more than $2B for oldest plant

    The company plans to construct a new hot strip mill at the Edgar Thomson plant and improve related Mon Valley Works facilities over the next three years.

    By • June 9, 2026
  • A person wearing a helmet and gloves as they weld a tall safe in the shadows.
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    Getty Images
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    Manufacturing industry gained 7,000 jobs in May

    The fabricated metal sector gained the most jobs with 6,800, while the plastics and rubber products segment lost the most jobs with 6,100.

    By • June 5, 2026
  • Rare earth metals emerge from the ground.
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    Getty Images
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    USA Rare Earth to invest $1.2B in South Carolina magnet factory

    The project is expected to create 490 jobs and will be supported by recently approved CHIPS Act funding. The U.S. government will become one of the company’s largest shareholders as part of the funding agreement.

    By • June 3, 2026
  • A large white facility in the center, with red and white texts on top, "American Icebreaker Factory."
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    Courtesy of Davie Defense
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    Davie Defense breaks ground on $1B shipbuilding site upgrades in Texas

    The modernization projects in Galveston and Port Arthur are part of a finalized $3.5 billion contract with the U.S. Coast Guard to supply five polar icebreaker vessels.

    By • June 2, 2026
  • Two people sit on high chairs in front of a projector screen with figures about industrial production
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    Cole Rosengren/Manufacturing Dive
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    MIT bullish on its Initiative for New Manufacturing at the one-year mark

    The group has been funding research projects, touring factories and piloting workforce development programs. Its three co-directors shared highlights during recent events in Boston and Cambridge.

    By • Updated June 5, 2026
  • Exterior photo of emergency responders at a Nippon Dynawave Packaging facility in Longview, Washington
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    Mathieu Lewis-Rolland via Getty Images
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    Nippon Paper assessing impacts after deadly Washington mill implosion

    Eight deaths were confirmed as of Thursday afternoon. “We support efforts to fully understand the root cause of this incident and identify measures that can help prevent similar tragedies in the future,” AF&PA said in a statement Friday.

    By Maria Rachal • Updated May 29, 2026
  • The back of a person wearing a jungle green tartaned-pattern newsboy cap and a black jacket working on a CNC machine.
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    Courtesy of Advanced Manufacturing Company of America (Amca)
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    Boeing, Lockheed supplier raises $300M, plans to expand factory footprint

    The Advanced Manufacturing Company of America will also use the funds to expand its AI-powered product development platform across its entire operations network.

    By • May 20, 2026
  • A reddish-orange SUV on a production line in a factory.
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    Courtesy of Toyota Motor Corp.
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    Toyota eyes $2B plant expansion in San Antonio

    That automaker is assessing potential locations and seeking incentives for a new facility in Texas, called Project Orca, with construction set to begin this year.

    By • May 18, 2026