In light of yesterday’s post about the ticking of manufacturing’s biological clock, we thought that we’d offer something a little more uplifting: news that shows that manufacturing still has a lot of teeth.

Even at a time when manufacturing needs more younger workers than ever, many manufacturers are still investing in the industry’s future. One great example is Ford, who .

Ford, who celebrated the 100th anniversary of the moving assembly line on Monday, “unveiled a  of its manufacturing capabilities that by 2017 will increase its global flexibility, add eight new assembly plants, six new drivetrain plants, and introduce new techniques such as 3-D printing and virtual simulation” ().

This isn’t the first time we’ve talked about Ford here at NeMAC–we mentioned their new F3T prototyping technology in a blog post this July–and it probably won’t be the last. Ford may be a big company (which many small manufacturing businesses aren’t), but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t admire their commitment to the future of manufacturing.

Even though Ford is a big company, this new plan for manufacturing expansion is a good sign. While Ford may always need to make cars, an expansion of this size only happens when manufacturers are confident in the industry’s future. What’s more, their adaptation of new technology like 3D printing shows that the technological advancement of manufacturing is very real.

Finally, Ford’s manufacturing expansion is a good sign for those looking to pursue a career in manufacturing. There are a lot of manufacturers out there who are ready and willing to hire bright young minds–and if you’re interested in manufacturing, what more could you really ask for?

Situations like these are reminders that, yes, manufacturing is still growing. But that growth can only continue if younger people start investing more time and energy into manufacturing. Want to know how to learn more about manufacturing, or how to get started in manufacturing as a career? Let us know in the comments or –here at NeMAC, we’re always here to help!

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