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Advanced Manufacturing
Manufacturing remains a vital force in Ohio's economy. An increasingly diverse manufacturing landscape employs next-generation technologies such as additive manufacturing, smart devices and systems, energy storage, automation and robotics.
Key facts
- Nearly 700,000 Ohioans work in manufacturing.
- Ohio's manufacturing output is $106 billion, making up 16.9 percent of the state's total GDP - the largest contribution of all 20 industry sectors.
- $1 in every $6 dollars contributed to GDP is generated by manufacturing.
- One in every eight jobs in Ohio is in manufacturing.
- More than 14,000 manufacturing firms are located here, including 1,200 in metals and components and 1,800 in plastics and rubber.
- Ohio spends over $12 billion annually on R&D in science and technology.
National position
- Third in manufacturing employment, behind California and Texas
- Third in manufacturing output (GDP), behind California and Texas
Major players
- Industry leaders with significant operations here include Emerson Electric, General Electric and Rockwell Automation.
- AK Steel, ArcelorMittal and Worthington Industries are among the largest steel manufacturers in Ohio.
- Ohio participates in four Manufacturing USA Institutes - IACMI, America Makes, LIFT and NextFlex - that help companies commercialize new products in additive manufacturing, advanced composites, lightweight materials and flexible electronics.
- The Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership supports manufacturers on issues of productivity and global competitiveness.
- More than 80 campuses at 27 colleges and universities in Ohio graduate more than 11,000 engineers and engineer technicians and over 7,700 science graduates annually.
- There are 59 OTC (Ohio Technical Centers) in Ohio, providing labor market-driven, post-secondary workforce education programs including automotive service technology, CNC, construction, welding, AutoCAD, industrial maintenance, and more.
Top employers
- General Electric - 14,500
- Whirlpool - 10,000
- Marathon Petroleum - 9,200
- General Motors - 8,800
Recent trends
- Industry, academic and government collaborations and resources are increasingly focused on advancing disruptive technologies, such as additive manufacturing (3-D printing) and automation, and developing carbon fiber and other composite materials.