The Latest

  • A white Leidos logo sign on a building, being back lit with red, white and blue lights.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Leidos
    Image attribution tooltip

    Leidos completes security screening joint venture with medical imaging manufacturer

    The Fortune 500 company’s new entity with Analogic aligns with its 2030 growth strategy and the Trump administration’s homeland security priorities.

    Updated Oct. 5, 2026
  • Engineer check and control automation robot arms machine in intelligent factory industrial
    Image attribution tooltip

    Adobe Stock/ Sasint

    Image attribution tooltip
    Sponsored by Infosys

    AI on the shop floor: Manufacturing’s physical AI moment

    Physical AI is here. Is your IT/OT foundation ready for it?

  • A person whose upper body is blurred as they work on an engine inside a factory.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Manufacturing industry adds 9K jobs in September

    The plastics and rubber products sector added the most jobs last month with 4,600, while paper, furniture and related segments each lost at least 2,000, according to BLS. August’s adjusted new jobs count dropped to 15,000.

  • Kawada Robotics demonstrates its Fillie humanoid robot at IMTS 2026 in Chicago.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of IMTS
    Image attribution tooltip

    IMTS 2026 highlights the evolution of AI and automation

    Manufacturing Dive gathered insights from several sessions and interviews about additive manufacturing, robotics and other factors shaping the industry.

  • Person in blue suit at a podium surrounded by people beside and behind.
    Image attribution tooltip
    (2026). "Thune: Congress Has Important Work Ahead, Starting With Government Funding" [Video]. Retrieved from John Thune.
    Image attribution tooltip

    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. 

  • Caterpillar's compact telehandler raises its industrial arm above a house during a construction project.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Caterpillar
    Image attribution tooltip

    Caterpillar and Ultium Cells make $1B facility investments

    Additionally, Genentech and Avio USA broke ground on separate projects this week including a device fill-finish expansion and a solid rocket motor factory.

  • A gray building with glass windows and the white Boeing logo on its top front.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Sara Samora/Manufacturing Dive
    Image attribution tooltip

    Nearly 10K Boeing workers ratify contract, avoiding West Coast strike

    The union contract between SPEEA-represented employees at the company’s facilites across Washington, Oregon, Utah and California was set to expire Oct. 6.

  • Colorful shipping containers stacked onboard an ocean vessel at a water port.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Mario Tama via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    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.

  • A large group of people standing behind a podium as confetti falls on them, with the blue Nasdaq screen in the background.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Nasdaq
    Image attribution tooltip

    Trump family-backed drone manufacturing merger closes

    Drone maker Powerus and golf course company Aureus Greenway Holdings completed the merger on Thursday. Experts raised concerns about the president’s sons’ conflicts of interest.

    Updated Oct. 1, 2026
  • Caracol's additive manufacturing robot automates component fabrication.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Caracol
    Image attribution tooltip

    How microfactories are changing the manufacturing playbook

    These small, modular facilities are leveraging robotics, additive manufacturing and advanced technologies to alleviate long lead times for parts and components.

  • A device releasing a large spray of water onto a tank emitting smoke.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Apu Gomes via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    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.

  • U.S. President Donald Trump speaks next to Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney during the G7 Leaders' Summit on June 16, 2025 in Kananaskis, Alberta.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Has Washington’s approach to manufacturing incentives really changed?

    In addition to tariffs, the Trump administration has taken a more sector-specific approach to incentives compared to the Biden administration. A recent Department of Commerce report laid out the current tools available.

  • Ford Michigan Van Dyke Powertrain Center Sterling Heights Michigan
    Image attribution tooltip

    Provided by Ford Motor Co. 

    Image attribution tooltip

    Ford, JPMorgan Chase and Michigan establish $3B manufacturing initiative

    The automaker and bank are partnering with the state to tackle challenges in scaling robotics and automation, critical minerals processing and other priority areas.

  • Seven silhouettes of fighter jets flying upward in a pyramid position above a dollar sign, with the sun setting in the background.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    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.

  • Workers collaborate at ABM's technical training center in Boise, Idaho.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of ABM
    Image attribution tooltip

    ABM launches semiconductor technical training facility in Boise, Idaho

    The facility extends ABM's existing semiconductor training footprint in Austin, Texas, and is meant to help increase the supply of skilled technicians.

  • 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.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    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.

  • A silver screw laid on a white table.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Garrett O'Brien/Saginaw Precision
    Image attribution tooltip

    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. 

  • Neura's 4NE1 humanoid works an automotive assembly line.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Neura Robotics
    Image attribution tooltip

    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.

  • A person wearing safety glasses and a dark blue t-shirt working a machine.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Retrieved from Jonathan Estrada-Eguizabal / U.S. Navy.
    Image attribution tooltip

    Defense Department expands workforce development program to 3 states

    The BuildFreedom.US initiative will extend to Ohio, Illinois and Wisconsin. The program launched in July and aims to bring awareness to “AI-proof” jobs in the defense industrial base’s talent pipeline.

  • robots sit on the floor of a display area at IMTS 2026
    Image attribution tooltip
    Jeff Kinney/Manufacturing Dive
    Image attribution tooltip

    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.

  • Workers operate Amazon's robotics manufacturing line in Massachusetts.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Amazon
    Image attribution tooltip

    Amazon, US Steel, Pirelli and others make facility investments

    Additionally, Eli Lilly broke ground on its Houston facility, and auto parts suppliers Hansae and Toyotetsu announced U.S. expansions. Meanwhile, Amy’s Kitchen and others are shuttering facilities.

  • Cheerios boxes on a store shelf
    Image attribution tooltip
    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    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.

  • A stone-gray shade building with onyx shade lining, with the red, white and yellow Lego logo sign on the side of it.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of The Lego Group
    Image attribution tooltip

    Lego to spend $400M expanding manufacturing facility in Mexico

    The toymaker plans to add packing and warehousing capabilities, as well as create 1,300 jobs at the Monterrey site.

  • FANUC robots sit on the floor at IMTS 2026
    Image attribution tooltip
    Photo by Jeff Kinney/Manufacturing Dive
    Image attribution tooltip

    Automation, AI among biggest trends shaping manufacturing in 2026: AMT

    Demand for automation is "off the charts" due in part to the manufacturing labor shortage, and AI is driving major demand for power transmission and electrical equipment, said principal economist Chris Chidzik.

  • Pickup trucks are lined up within a factory to be assembled.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Manufacturing growth drives need for hazardous waste solutions: Veolia

    Hazardous waste volumes may grow 4 millions tons by 2033 due to increased manufacturing activity in semiconductors, autos, biotech and more. A Veolia-backed report outlines the need for capacity to keep up.

  • Unilever's Gandhidham personal care manufacturing site in India.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Unilever
    Image attribution tooltip

    How manufacturers can improve factory sustainability through AI

    Experts at Climate Week NYC 2026 discussed how to leverage technologies to drive energy efficiencies, including predictive maintenance and machine-learning models for critical minerals recovery.