NEW YORK--Industrial robots could help counter aging demographics in German and Japanese factories.

SEATTLE—About 35 percent of the 29,645 machinists in Boeing’s Seattle industrial hub are 55 or older.

ARLINGTON, TX—When James Humes began working at GM’s assembly plant here, many of his colleagues weren’t even born yet.

Continental AG’s long-term commitment to age-stable ergonomics pays big dividends to the company and all of its workers.

NEW YORK—Almost 80 percent of the current manufacturing workforce is between the ages of 45 and 65, says a new report from ThomasNet.com. One-third are between 55 and 64 years old and starting to look toward retirement. Yet more than three-quarters of the manufacturers in the study said that fewer than 25 percent of their employees are under age 30, and most don’t see that changing anytime soon.

WARREN, MI—A 61-year-old worker was found dead Saturday while working at Chrysler’s truck assembly plant here. The man, who is not being identified, was working on the line performing a weld-check when he was discovered at 10:30 a.m. slumped over.

CONCORD, NH—New Hampshire manufacturers are struggling with the dual threat of an aging skilled workforce and a lack of qualified factory workers.

Ergonomics helps manufacturers meet an ongoing challenge: helping assemblers age productively.