ADVANCE, NC—It’s been nearly three years since Ashley Furniture moved its manufacturing operation here. Since then, the company has brought about 350 jobs to Davie County, and it’s not done hiring. The company wants to have 750 people by the end of this year.

RUSSELL SPRINGS, KY—Dr. Schneider Automotive Systems Inc. has officially opened its new, $29 million assembly plant here, which will make parts for Ford, BMW, Mercedes, Audi and other OEMs.

BERLIN—Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation and Automation have developed a mobile robot that can move along with aerospace workers and assist them as they assemble and test parts.

SEATTLE—The 8,000th Boeing 737 rolled off the assembly line here yesterday, a milestone for the best-selling airplane of all time.

LOWER MACUNGIE TOWNSHIP, PA—Mack Trucks assembly plant here was evacuated Tuesday after a newly assembled truck caught fire at a test and inspection station.

AMES, IA—The Critical Materials Institute here has a installed a 3D printer to facilitate research on alternatives to rare-earth elements and other critical materials for clean energy.

CANTON, MS—Nissan Motor Co. has settled an unfair labor practice charge with a pro-union worker at its assembly plant here. The charge focused on a dispute over when Willard “Chip” Wells, a UAW supporter, could hand out union literature at the facility.

JACKSON, TN—Medical device manufacturer Orchid Orthopedic will invest $976,000 in a new assembly plant here, creating 25 new jobs.

SMITHVILLE, MS—Behold Home Inc. will locate a new assembly plant here, creating 80 jobs over three years.

DETROIT—The UAW’s total membership grew by 8,902 in 2013, as the automotive industry rebounded and the union logged some organizing victories that helped it reach a total of 391,415 members. While the increase is a modest 2 percent gain, it is the fourth consecutive year of membership gains for the UAW at a time when labor union membership continues to decline nationally.