Apart from what has occurred in the industry itself, the complete transformation of the global machine tool industry is a useful barometer for the entire manufacturing sector.

FORBES: China's Manufacturing Prowess

The dominant players in the machine tool industry have varied with the rise and fall of industrial manufacturing by country.

FORBES: China's Manufacturing Prowess

The disappearing jobs list also reflects the continuing long-term decline of no- and low-skilled manufacturing jobs in the U.S.--sewing machine operators, engine assemblers, machine tool setters, home appliance repairers and textile knitting machine operators.

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