SINGAPORE--Engineers at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) here have developed a robotic system that can autonomously assemble an IKEA chair. The machines feature off-the-shelf components, such as 3D cameras and robotic arms equipped with parallel grippers.

DEARBORN, MI--The Associated Press reported last week that Ford Motor Co. will shed most of its North American car lineup as part of broad plan to save money and make the company more competitive in a fast-changing marketplace. The changes include getting rid of all cars in the region during the next four years except for the Mustang sports car and a compact Focus crossover vehicle, CEO Jim Hackett said as the company released first-quarter earnings.

BLUE SPRINGS, MS--Toyota Motor Corp. is investing $170 million at its assembly plant here to build the 12th-generation Corolla sedan, creating 400 jobs. The small car is moving to a new platform known as Toyota New Global Architecture, and production lines will be replaced as part of the investment.

TOLEDO, OH--After more than 12 years of production, the final Jeep Wrangler JK has rolled off the assembly line at the FCA Supplier Park here. Approximately 2.1 million Wranglers were built during this time. The plant will now begin retooling for the all-new Jeep truck that is scheduled to launch in the first half of 2019.

RANDOLPH CIRCLE, VT--To enhance its rebound, the manufacturing industry has taken a more tech-intensive twist, making skills like 3D design critical for future employment. Schools of different types are taking notice.

LONDON--About a year and a half ago, well-known automobile designer Gordon Murray designed the OX truck to be cheap to manufacture, shipped in flat packs and quickly assembled at its final destination. According to the Global Vehicle Trust, three skilled people can put an OX together in approximately 12 hours.

HOUSTON--U.S. manufacturing sector reported the greatest improvement in overall business conditions since September 2014, while the service sector continues to expand, the IHS Markit's Purchasing Managers' Index showed on Monday.

DETROIT--Wallace Detroit Guitars and Chevrolet are teaming up to release a line of guitars made with wood salvaged from the GM truck plant in Fort Wayne, IN. The move further cements the bond between Detroit's long legacies of automobile and music production.

HANNOVER, Germany, and PLANO, TX--Siemens has announced the launch of its Additive Manufacturing Network, an online collaborative platform designed to bring on-demand design and engineering expertise, knowledge, digital tools, and production capacity for industrial 3D printing to the global manufacturing industry.