MURRAY, KY—German automotive supplier Iwis is planning to open a $12.5 million assembly plant here, creating 75 jobs.

BYNUM, MT—Yates Constructors is building an assembly plant here to make equipment for processing Canadian oil sands. The facility will hire 75 to 100 workers beginning in April.

WEST POINT, GA—Kia Motors will invest $1.6 billion on new machinery, tools and other technology at its assembly plant here over the next 16 years.

OAKVILLE, ON—Ford Canada is adding a third shift at its assembly plant here, creating 300 jobs that will be first offered to laid off employees.

ANN ARBOR, MI—A free webinar Dec. 5 will address the role of robotics and automation in logistics and distribution operations.

DETROIT—GE has agreed to buy 2,000 Ford C-MAX plug-in hybrid vehicles, as part of the conglomerate’s plan to convert half its global fleet to alternative fuel vehicles.

WASHINGTON—Overall manufacturing output for October came in at a level just above 93, meaning it is still about 7 percent below the peak in 2007.

CANTON, MI—Element Electronics has reshored production of televisions from Asia to an assembly plant here.

POCASSET, MA—Hydroid Inc., a maker of autonomous underwater vehicles, has begun constructing a new assembly plant and research facility here. The company will hire at least 21 new workers next year.

WASHINGTON—Connecting industrial operations to the Internet could lead to significant gains in productivity, potentially worth $10 trillion to $15 trillion globally, a study by General Electric.