Some of the industries within manufacturing that have shown the strongest growth over the last 12 months have included machine shops, manufacturers of metalworking machinery, plastics product manufacturing and manufacturers of electrical equipment and components, Sageworks data shows.

FORBES: Manufacturing's heavy lifting within the U.S. economy

In general, the molecular designs of these plastics improve a product's flame resistance or its structural integrity under heat.

FORBES: Safer And Guilt-Free Nano Foods

He subsequently became vice president of worldwide marketing product management for GE Appliances in 1991, vice president and general manager of GE Plastics Americas commercial division in 1992, and vice president and general manager of GE Plastics Americas in 1993.

FORBES: Jeffrey Immelt