The manufacturing industry is one of the most important industries in America. In 2012, it accounted for $2.3 trillion dollars of GDP and employed more than 12 million people in the U.S. alone. Recently, there has been a decline in manufacturing jobs due to automation and outsourcing overseas – from 2000-2010 over 5 million jobs were lost because of these reasons. But there are still many ways you can get involved with this industry without actually being a factory worker.