Operations

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    Do you need a chief manufacturing officer?

    Some companies, government agencies and trade groups have invested in the role, but experts say scaling it remains challenging. Two people who have held the title weigh in on the value of a CMO.

    By Keesa Schreane • Oct. 12, 2026
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    stock.adobe.com/Air stock

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    Sponsored by Nuveen

    The manufacturing workforce is changing. Can benefits keep pace?

    Are benefit dollars keeping pace with the changing needs of manufacturing workers?

    Oct. 12, 2026
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    Trendline

    Top 5 stories from Manufacturing Dive

    Check out some of our publication’s top stories so far in 2026.

    By Manufacturing Dive staff
  • Blue Origin's New Glenn orbital rocket sits on a launch pad at LC-36 ahead of the N-3 mission on April 12, 2026.
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    Courtesy of Blue Origin
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    Blue Origin, PPG and more invest in manufacturing facilities

    Additionally, Cleveland-Cliffs provided an update on its Butler Works expansion in Pennsylvania, Xingyu announced its first U.S. facility in North Carolina and Re:Build is tripling production in South Carolina.

    By • Oct. 9, 2026
  • Two workers in safety gear conducting quality inspections of stacked large concrete squares inside an industrial plant.
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    Alamy
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    Thousands of manufacturing layoffs announced in September

    Avid Medical, Bristol Myers Squibb, Dreyer’s, MasterBrand Cabinets, Wonder Group and Carry-On Trailer were among dozens of companies that announced facility closures or changes last month.

    By • Oct. 9, 2026
  • The orange GlobalFoundries logo on a wall near a lit ceiling.
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    Courtesy of GlobalFoundries
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    GlobalFoundries and TSMC reach $2B deal for US-based silicon interposers

    The multiyear agreement aims to expand capacity for TSMC's advanced packaging and support growing demand for artificial intelligence and high-performance computing technologies.

    By • Oct. 9, 2026
  • Predictive Maintenance Increase Manufacturing Productivity and Efficiency. Senior Plant Manager discussing maintenance plan with female maintenance engineer in front of machinery at factory shop-floor.
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    Teams often miss preventive maintenance, raising costs and risks: Limble

    Teams complete just 54% of scheduled preventive maintenance, while 47% of maintenance leaders report more than 10 hours of unplanned downtime in a typical month, according to a new survey.

    By • Oct. 8, 2026
  • Engineers observing the Robotics arm welding units operation at factory.
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    Manufacturability, costing cited as key areas of AI impact: Xometry survey

    The survey of 150 manufacturing executives also found that firms are increasingly adopting artificial intelligence and automation tools, but that related human roles are some of the hardest to fill.

    By • Oct. 7, 2026
  • A rendering of Bayer's manufacturing plant slated for New Albany International Business Park in Ohio.
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    Courtesy of Bayer
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    Bayer to invest $2.2B in Ohio pharmaceutical facility

    The drugmaker plans to develop a “flexible, modular campus” with advanced digital and automation technologies. The first phase is set to be ready in 2031.

    By • Oct. 6, 2026
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    Courtesy of BD
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    BD strikes $19B supply chain pact with Trump administration

    BD plans to increase U.S. production of essential medical consumables in exchange for relief from future tariffs on its products.

    By Susan Kelly • Oct. 6, 2026
  • robots sit on the floor of a display area at IMTS 2026
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    Jeff Kinney/Manufacturing Dive
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    2027 manufacturing conferences and trade shows

    Upcoming industry events will showcase the latest products and cover key topics such as tariff mitigation, automation and artificial intelligence.

    By Manufacturing Dive Staff • Oct. 6, 2026
  • Person in blue suit at a podium surrounded by people beside and behind.
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    (2026). "Thune: Congress Has Important Work Ahead, Starting With Government Funding" [Video]. Retrieved from John Thune.
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    Manufacturers ‘all in’ on Senate permitting reform bill: NAM

    The bill aims to cut through red tape and speed up environmental permitting for major infrastructure projects. It now awaits consideration in the Senate. 

    By • Oct. 2, 2026
  • A device releasing a large spray of water onto a tank emitting smoke.
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    Apu Gomes via Getty Images
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    Newsom signs California explosive chemical safety legislation

    The initial bill was reworked after a May chemical spill at GKN Aerospace’s facility in Garden Grove. The Boeing supplier agreed to pay up to $100 million to reimburse residents forced to evacuate over a five-day period.

    By • Oct. 1, 2026
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Manufacturing expands in September, but uncertainty weighs on sentiment

    Although the sector remained in expansion, "not being able to rely on a steady economic policy" is worrying manufacturers, said Susan Spence, chair of the Institute for Supply Management.

    By • Oct. 1, 2026
  • Seven silhouettes of fighter jets flying upward in a pyramid position above a dollar sign, with the sun setting in the background.
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    Getty Images
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    Private investment gaps persist in US defense: AIA, Bain report

    Private investment could resolve issues to help the industy meet surging demand for munitions amid ongoing global threats, according to the Aerospace Industries Association and Bain & Co. report.

    By • Sept. 30, 2026
  • A silver screw laid on a white table.
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    Courtesy of Garrett O'Brien/Saginaw Precision
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    Salient Motion establishes precision ball screw manufacturing segment

    The startup has implemented its process with Saginaw Precision’s expertise to reduce ball screw production time from years to about eight weeks, which are a critical component in missiles such as Raytheon’s PAC-2. 

    By • Sept. 29, 2026
  • U.S. President Donald Trump answers questions from reporters during an announcement in the Oval Office at the White House on Sept. 28, 2026 in Washington, DC.
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    Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images
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    Trump unveils plans to build $15B steel mill in Iowa

    Mesabi Metallics’ steel facility will be the largest in the U.S., creating 1,750 jobs and adding 10 million tons of annual production capacity. The company is also investing $3 billion to complete an iron ore mine in Minnesota.

    By • Sept. 29, 2026
  • Neura's 4NE1 humanoid works an automotive assembly line.
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    Courtesy of Neura Robotics
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    Factory robots surpass 5M worldwide, IFR reports

    That number has doubled over the past seven years and is set to continue growing as manufacturers navigate labor and cost pressures, according to the robotics trade group.

    By • Sept. 28, 2026
  • Side view of serious engineer in hardhat pressing start button on panel of machine or other industrial equipment to check how it works
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    Pressmaster/Shutterstock.com

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    Sponsored by D-Wave

    When “good enough” becomes a competitive disadvantage: The case for quantum optimization

    Manufacturers may be meeting production requirements but sacrificing capacity, responsiveness and margin to the limitations of their planning tools.

    Sept. 28, 2026
  • robots sit on the floor of a display area at IMTS 2026
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    Jeff Kinney/Manufacturing Dive
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    These ‘4 pillars’ are critical for successful automation

    “People, processes, data and systems” are essential elements of any automation strategy, Sven Diedrich, head of digital transformation and business solutions at Pinaxis, said at IMTS in Chicago.

    By • Sept. 25, 2026
  • Cheerios boxes on a store shelf
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    6 food manufacturers talk supply chain tactics

    General Mills, Nestlé and more discussed how they are cutting operational costs, navigating uneven freight rates and sharpening demand forecasting at a Barclays conference.

    By Antone Gonsalves • Sept. 25, 2026
  • Boston Dynamics' Atlas humanoids conduct tasks at an automotive plant.
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    Courtesy of Boston Dynamics
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    Boston Dynamics begins robotics testing at Hyundai, outlines expansion

    The company is training its Atlas humanoids to take over repetitive and heavy tasks at the automaker’s factories, with plans to begin component assembly by 2030.

    By • Sept. 22, 2026
  • Agility Robotics' Digit 5 humanoid.
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    Courtesy of Agility Robotics
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    Agility debuts ‘first cooperatively safe humanoid,’ a milestone in robotics

    Additionally, Universal Robots and Fanuc America introduced new robots at IMTS in Chicago.

    By • Sept. 21, 2026
  • Smoke emitting from a missile shot out from a ground-based mobile launching station under a mostly cloudy and dusky sky.
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    Courtesy of Lockheed Martin
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    GM delivers first PAC-3 components to Lockheed Martin

    General Motors’ defense subsidiary provided the components 22 days after it signed an agreement with the weapons maker. 

    By • Sept. 21, 2026
  • California Gov. Gavin Newsom enacts Senate Bill 131, which exempts advanced manufacturers from undergoing the state' environmental review process.
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    Courtesy of Gov. Gavin Newsom's office
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    Gov. Newsom vetoes bill narrowing CEQA advanced manufacturing exemption

    The legislation would have added hurdles and compliance costs for facility projects in the state, industry groups said.

    By • Sept. 21, 2026
  • Hydundai Motor Group's Atlas humanoid robot is on stage at CES 2026 in Las Vegas.
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    Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group
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    Q&A

    Humanoids ‘deviating’ attention from core manufacturing issues: Schneider

    Andre Marino, senior vice president of industrial automation at Schneider Electric, spoke with Manufacturing Dive about the future of the industry and the shift to a software-defined framework.

    By • Sept. 16, 2026