HICKORY, NC—Design Foundry is investing more than $3.1 million to open a new furniture assembly plant here that will create 202 jobs over the next five years.

DEARBORN, MI—Ford Motor Co. said Monday that it is laying off about 7,000 managers and other salaried employees, about 10 percent of its white-collar workforce across the globe, as part of a restructuring plan designed to save the number two automaker $600 million annually.

GREENSBORO, NC—Honda Aircraft Co. announced Monday it is expanding its global headquarters here with an extra 82,000 square feet for expanded wing assembly and more parts storage for the private jets rolling off the production line.

REIDSVILLE, NC—Window and door manufacturer Pella Corp. will invest nearly $20 million in a new assembly plant here and create 124 jobs. Hiring will begin in the fourth quarter of 2019.

LANSING, MI–The Michigan Strategic Fund is supporting planned expansions by three Tier 1 suppliers that will generate nearly $30 million in private investment and create 262 jobs in northern and southeast Michigan, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation recently announced. The three suppliers are Concord Tool and Manufacturing Inc., erae AMS USA Manufacturing LLC and Ventra Evart LLC.

GREENVILLE, SC—Lockheed Martin formally opened its new F-16 production line in a refurbished hangar here late last month. The assembly of F-16s is expected to start later this year, according to the company.

YOUNGSTOWN, OH—Royal DSM and JuggerBot 3D recently announced a trial program that lets companies evaluate engineering-grade materials in an industrial-grade filament printer without the upfront investment in hardware.

BREMEN, Germany—Although the 2021 Mercedes-Benz EQC electric SUV won't be arriving at U.S. dealers until sometime next year, the first production version just rolled off the line in Germany.

CHICAGO—Last year, robot sales in the United States hit a new peak of almost 38,000 units, setting a record for the eighth year in a row.

KARLSRUHE, Germany—A group of engineers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology are using artificial intelligence (AI) technology to develop an agile production system that can autonomously adapt to changing product specifications.