The once-plagued industrial areas of the Rust Belt are beginning to re-assert their manufacturing prowess after decades-long economic devastation, reinventing themselves as leading players in the latest manufacturing renaissance. While not yet at pre-1980s powerhouse levels, growth within the industry remains strong in many parts of the United States. A Forbes article published in late July by Joel Kotkin and Michael Shires highlighted expansion in the industry to the tune of 7.5 percent and 855,000 new jobs. For this information, the authors looked at statistics from the U.S. Bureau of labor statistics in 373 metropolitan areas over the past decade.

Room to Grow with a Caveat

While much of the manufacturing news of late bemoaned the industry’s shortage of skilled workers proficient in science, technology, math and engineering skills, leaders within the manufacturing industry continue to move forward with great strides. Authors Shires and Kotkin point to rising Chinese labor prices, an increasingly technological marketplace and the need to respond to requests from local customers for customization as reason for expansion in the industry. Examples of these innovations include collaborations between formerly siloed industries and partnerships among private and public sector entities.

Who’s changing the Tide?

Collaborating with information published in July’s 2015 Manufacturing and Logistics Report, prepared by Ball State University’s Center for Business and Economic Research, cities within Michigan continue to make the strongest manufacturing strides. According to Kotkin and Shires, Detroit and its surrounding areas currently claim the top spots for manufacturing growth.

Manufacturing Powerhouse Regions

1. Detroit-Dearborn-Livonia, Michigan
2. Warren-Troy-Farmington, Michigan
3. Grand Rapids-Wyoming, Michigan
4. Nashville-Davidon-Murfreesboro, Tennessee
5. Albany-Schenectady-Troy, New York
6. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
7. Louisville/Jefferson County, Kentucky
8. Kansas City, Missouri
9. Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas
10. Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, Oregon

Other manufacturing areas within the Great Lakes states are also making strides. In the Midwest, Toledo, Ohio, gained mention for Midwest-based growth with a 14.7 percent rise in industrial employment. Ohio is also a strong area for emerging technologies such as additive manufacturing and initiatives to re-introduce the public to the new face of manufacturing. Within the state, manufacturers large and small are looking to showcase unique contributions to the industry poised for the ever-changing dynamic of evolving customer needs and desire for innovation.

The ability to remain flexible in design and concept is a critical element for the designers and manufacturers at Cleveland Deburring Machine Company. The manufacturers at CDMC strive to work with each customer to achieve the best possible deburring solution for their unique product. Through this application of innovation and initiative, CDMC can design comprehensive deburring solutions for custom applications, fluid power, powdered metals, power transmission, aerospace and defense, sprockets and gears.