Numerous pundits have forecast that U.S. manufacturing will follow the path of agriculture: Automation will replace human workers and steal all of our jobs. It will be an automation doomsday. Clearly, returning jobs will be, on average, higher skilled and fewer in number than when the work was lost offshore years ago. However, in reality, automation is key to reshoring and thus to U.S. job growth.

In January, President Donald Trump traveled to Davos, Switzerland, to speak at the annual World Economic Forum (WEF). His message: "America is open for business."

WASHINGTON--President Donald Trump wants U.S. manufacturers to invest in domestic factories and reshore production.

BEIJING—Demand for industrial robots in China is predicted to hit 32,000 units by 2014, making the manufacturing giant the world’s largest robotics consumer.