The ISM reported a reading of 61.2% in March, down from 61.4% in February, but still steadily above the 50% mark that indicates that manufacturing is expanding.

FORBES: Jobs: Report Is Good, Markets Respond

Veeco shares are trading sharply lower Tuesday after CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets analyst Mark Heller cut his rating on the maker of LED manufacturing equipment to Sell form Underperform.

FORBES: Veeco: CLSA Cuts Rating To Sell; Shares Slide After Big Run

In 2011 manufacturing expanded at three time the rate of overall GDP, according to Mark Perry of the University of Michigan-Flint, and the sector added 425, 000 jobs, also outpacing the national average.

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Many manufacturing jobs will be rendered useless with newer technology, which has ever been the mark of an increasingly specialised society.

FORBES: In Europe, India To The Rescue

Mark Zandi, chief economist and cofounder of Moody's Economy.com, says he expects manufacturing and distribution centers (think Atlanta and Dallas) to show the first signs of life as the recovery unfolds this year.

FORBES: Boomtowns

Does anyone imagine that these manufacturing delays were occurring back when these companies were making big bucks on the product, achieved by the huge mark-ups that accompany receipt of the patent protection that bars others from competing?

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Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Economy.com, points out that export-related manufacturing, in particular, is highly productive and therefore less prone to mass hiring.

ECONOMIST: Exports and the economy