WASHINGTON—U.S. factory orders increased in March after seven consecutive months of declines, according to the Commerce Department. The rebound was boosted by demand for computers and transportation equipment.

MIDDLEBURY, IN—Winnebago Industries is planning to invest $5.4 million to boost production at its four assembly plants in Indiana. The manufacturer could create close to 150 new jobs by 2019.

ANN ARBOR, MI—A total of 6,895 robots valued at approximately $435.1 million were ordered from North American companies during the first quarter of 2015. That’s an increase of 16 percent in units and 29 percent in dollars compared with the same period in 2014. Both orders and shipments in the opening quarter beat the previous record for the first quarter last set in 2013.

CHICAGO—Ford has replaced all the top managers at its Chicago Assembly Plant and had temporarily suspended a top union leader in the wake of a second sexual harassment lawsuit that was filed in November.

DETROIT—To ramp up production, Sakthi Automotive Group USA Inc. is betting big on a nontraditional sort of workforce: convicted felons.

MARYSVILLE, MI—SMR Automotive Systems is creating 200 new jobs and investing $18.6 million in its assembly plant here.

DETROIT—General Motors has confirmed plans to invest $5.4 billion at its U.S. assembly plants over the next three years to strengthen its production capabilities and enhance product quality.

MT. HOLLY, NC—Daimler Trucks North America plans to sharply increase production and employment levels at its assembly plant here over the next three months, adding 580 manufacturing and 25 supervision, engineering and administrative positions by mid-July.

SMYRNA, TN—Topre America will invest $53.3 million to build a new assembly plant here, expanding its current operations based inside Nissan’s car factory. This expansion will allow the automotive parts manufacturer to increase production efficiency and create 100 new jobs.

LAFAYETTE, LA—Bell Helicopter will hire 115 employees for its $26.3 million assembly plant under construction here.