VALENCIA, Spain—Autonomous vehicles from Ford are still a few years away, but one little robot is already showing what’s possible.

If Ohio ever needs a catch phrase to promote its manufacturing success, “five out of eight is great” would be appropriate. The reason is because Ohio is home to five of Whirlpool Corp.’s eight U.S. assembly plants. Those five factories are located in the Ohio cities of Clyde, Findlay, Greenville, Marion and Ottawa.

LUDWIGSFELDE, Germany—Automated guided vehicles are used to deliver parts to workers assembling Sprinter vans at the Mercedes-Benz factory here.

HUNTSVILLE, AL—Raytheon Co. has revolutionized missile manufacturing at its sprawling, classified factory here, where automated transporters ferry missile parts to gleaming assembly stations, and even tuck themselves away for charging when their batteries run low.

GEORGETOWN, KY—Toyota’s assembly plant here employs automatic guided vehicles throughout its 7.5 million square foot plant.