--- title: 6 Manufacturing Facts That Will Blow Your Mind description: Six fun manufacturing facts about the manufacturing sector. Learn more about one of the world’s oldest and strongest industries. image: https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hubfs/image32-2.jpg --- [Skip to main content](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/6-manufacturing-facts-that-will-blow-your-mind#main) - FAQs - [News](https://ontarioeast.ca/news) - [Events](https://ontarioeast.ca/events) - [Ontario East Municipal Conference](https://ontarioeast.ca/happenings/our-team-partners) - [About Us](https://ontarioeast.ca/about-us/) - Search [![site_main_logo](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hubfs/site_main_logo.svg) ![site_main_logo_scrolled](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hubfs/site_main_logo_scrolled.svg) ![Ontario East Economic Development logo](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/logo.png?width=245&height=150&name=logo.png) ![Ontario East Economic Development logo](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/logo.png?width=245&height=150&name=logo.png)](https://ontarioeast.ca/) - [Show submenu for Regional Profile Regional Profile](https://ontarioeast.ca/regional-profile/) - [Our Communities](https://ontarioeast.ca/regional-profile/our-communities/) - [Advantages](https://ontarioeast.ca/regional-profile/advantages/) - [Workforce](https://ontarioeast.ca/regional-profile/workforce/) - [Incentives and Funding](https://ontarioeast.ca/regional-profile/incentives-and-funding/) - [Success Stories](https://ontarioeast.ca/success-stories/) - [Available Properties](https://ontarioeast.ca/available-properties/) - [Show submenu for Key Employment Sectors Key Employment Sectors](https://ontarioeast.ca/key-employment-sectors/) - [Advanced Manufacturing](https://ontarioeast.ca/key-employment-sectors/advanced-manufacturing/) - [Food and Beverage](https://ontarioeast.ca/key-employment-sectors/food-and-beverage/) - [Logistics and Transportation](https://ontarioeast.ca/key-employment-sectors/logistics-and-transportation/) - [Other](https://ontarioeast.ca/key-employment-sectors/other/) - [Show submenu for Members Members](https://ontarioeast.ca/members/) - [Member Directory](https://ontarioeast.ca/members/) - [Become a Member](https://ontarioeast.ca/members/become-a-member/) - [Membership Application Form](https://ontarioeast.ca/members/membership-application-form/) - [Regional Marketing Committee](https://ontarioeast.ca/members/regional-marketing-committee/) - [Jobs & RFPs](https://ontarioeast.ca/jobs-rfps/) Open main navigation Menu Close main navigation Menu - Search - Show submenu for Regional Profile Regional Profile - Regional Profile - [Regional Profile](https://ontarioeast.ca/regional-profile/) - [Our Communities](https://ontarioeast.ca/regional-profile/our-communities/) - [Advantages](https://ontarioeast.ca/regional-profile/advantages/) - [Workforce](https://ontarioeast.ca/regional-profile/workforce/) - [Incentives and Funding](https://ontarioeast.ca/regional-profile/incentives-and-funding/) - [Success Stories](https://ontarioeast.ca/success-stories/) - [Available Properties](https://ontarioeast.ca/available-properties/) - Show submenu for Key Employment Sectors Key Employment Sectors - Key Employment Sectors - [Key Employment Sectors](https://ontarioeast.ca/key-employment-sectors/) - [Advanced Manufacturing](https://ontarioeast.ca/key-employment-sectors/advanced-manufacturing/) - [Food and Beverage](https://ontarioeast.ca/key-employment-sectors/food-and-beverage/) - [Logistics and Transportation](https://ontarioeast.ca/key-employment-sectors/logistics-and-transportation/) - [Other](https://ontarioeast.ca/key-employment-sectors/other/) - [FAQs](https://ontarioeast.ca/faqs/) - [News](https://ontarioeast.ca/news/) - [Events](https://ontarioeast.ca/events/) - Show submenu for Members Members - Members - [Members](https://ontarioeast.ca/members/) - [Member Directory](https://ontarioeast.ca/members/) - [Become a Member](https://ontarioeast.ca/members/become-a-member/) - [Membership Application Form](https://ontarioeast.ca/members/membership-application-form/) - [Regional Marketing Committee](https://ontarioeast.ca/members/regional-marketing-committee/) - [Jobs & RFPs](https://ontarioeast.ca/jobs-rfps/) - [Ontario East Municipal Conference](https://oemc.ca/) - [Contact Us](https://ontarioeast.ca/contact-us/) - [Contact Us](https://ontarioeast.ca/contact-us/) [Contact Us](https://ontarioeast.ca/contact-us/) Search ![Canada, Employment Ontario, Government of Ontario logos](https://ontarioeast.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ontario-employment-logos.svg) This Employment Ontario project is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario. # 6 Manufacturing Facts That Will Blow Your Mind For Ontario East January 31, 2020 ![](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/image32-2.jpg?width=565&name=image32-2.jpg) The story of manufacturing is more than a story about factory lines. **Manufacturing is a rich and vast world** of diverse stories from an industry nearly as old as humanity. The stories are about the tools we build and the things we make. This rich tapestry of [manufacturing culture](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/holy-tinkerers-batman-there-is-a-graphic-novel-about-manufacturing) and history is full of interesting manufacturing facts you may not know.  ## 1. Manufacturing Facts: The Oldest Manufacturing Companies Ever  Manufacturing has been around since people first started creating the first tools. As human civilization has developed, so has [the manufacturing industry](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/manufacturing-trends-that-you-need-to-know).  We still need to manufacture many of the products we’ve needed since the beginning of civilization (think cookware, utensils, [food](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/could-ontarian-cuisine-make-it-on-netflix-shows-about-cooking), paper). Because of these unchanging staples of manufacturing, a few manufacturing companies have managed to survive for over a thousand years!  The Japanese ceremonial paper company **Genda Shigyō** has been in business since 771 CE. *Not* 1771, *771*! There’s also a German wine manufacturer that’s been in business since 862 and a French mint that’s been manufacturing coinage since 864! If you’re interested in joining a profession with a rich past and tradition, you should look into a [career in manufacturing](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/lanthier-bakery-puts-eastern-ontario-on-the-map).  ## 2. Most Manufacturing Companies Are Quite Small When most people think of manufacturing companies, they tend to think of the huge, famous companies, like Ford. But the reality for most manufacturing companies is very different. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, of 249,962 manufacturing firms, only 3,837 had more than 500 employees. Not only that, but the vast majority were companies of [20 employees or less](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/how-to-boost-hiring-with-the-eastern-ontario-training-board).  The data on Canadian businesses supports the same idea. There are almost 600,000 more people employed by manufacturing companies with fewer than 99 employees than by companies of 500 employees and more.  ## 3. Canadian Manufacturing Employs a Lot of People There are 1.7 million [full-time manufacturing jobs in Canada](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/play-the-game-of-life-in-eastern-ontario-and-win). That’s especially impressive when you keep in mind that Canada’s total workforce is **only around 18 million people.**  ## 4. A Quarter of All Canadians But if you think Fact 3 was impressive, that’s nothing. During the 1940s, 25 percent of [Canada’s workforce](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/how-to-thrive-in-winter-in-canada) was employed in the manufacturing sector. That’s right, one in four employees was a manufacturer of some kind.  ## 5. China in the Lead China is currently **the largest manufacturing nation** in the world, followed by the European Union, and the United States.  ## 6. The Root of Manufacturing ![image23-2](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/image23-2.png?width=300&name=image23-2.png)“[Manufacture](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/do-you-know-these-basic-manufacturing-terms)” is a 16th-century French word meaning “something made by hand.” The word is partially derived from the Latin word “manufactura” which also means to make something by hand. Though many products today *are* still made by hand, maybe we should update the word “manufacture” to include robots, [computers](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/dont-worry-about-losing-jobs-to-ai), and other machines? The manufacturing world is clearly a lot more diverse in its methods than it was in the 16th century.  ## Thinking About a Career in Manufacturing? Look into Eastern Ontario [![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4499088/e89ff029-e830-4077-b91c-e76e3cca8e22.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4499088/e89ff029-e830-4077-b91c-e76e3cca8e22) *External links are provided as informational resources only and are not necessarily endorsed by Ontario East.*  References: [https://www.nam.org/facts-about-manufacturing/](https://www.nam.org/facts-about-manufacturing/) [https://www.manufacturingglobal.com/top10/top-10-manufacturing-companies-us](https://www.manufacturingglobal.com/top10/top-10-manufacturing-companies-us) https://www.canadaaction.ca/manufacturing\_industry\_canada\_facts [https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/as-sa/99-012-x/99-012-x2011002-eng.cfm](https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/as-sa/99-012-x/99-012-x2011002-eng.cfm) [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manufacturing](https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manufacturing) [https://monroeengineering.com/blog/did-you-know-fun-facts-about-manufacturing/](https://monroeengineering.com/blog/did-you-know-fun-facts-about-manufacturing/) [https://www.etymonline.com/word/manufacture](https://www.etymonline.com/word/manufacture) [https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/061.nsf/eng/h\_03090.html](https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/061.nsf/eng/h_03090.html) ![Ontario East](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hubfs/Ontario%20Website%202021/Mask%20Group%20(11).png) ## Ontario East [For job seekers](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/tag/for-job-seekers) - [![linkedin-1](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hubfs/linkedin-1.svg) Post](https://www.linkedin.com/company/ontarioeast/) - [![square-x-twitter](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hubfs/square-x-twitter.svg) Post](https://x.com/OntarioEast) - [![facebook](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hubfs/facebook.svg) Share](https://www.facebook.com/Ontario.East/) - [![envelope-solid](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hubfs/envelope-solid.svg) Email](mailto:info@ontarioeast.ca) ## You Might Also Be Interested In ### [![](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported%20sitepage%20images/AD_4nXe-FJQkhQbXBfG6OLVGz_KGqNblbr3x8E80bO6lTvJx24vP1nUQ0pQYYivxCXVixj1TV8bCkZcxtSjpWQPAZJKg-xGFvW2xfbHg4dQXsqLCWXvmMJEuHQ5xTPpRt1SdnKyo8tadCnEmOhY_z.jpg?height=485&name=AD_4nXe-FJQkhQbXBfG6OLVGz_KGqNblbr3x8E80bO6lTvJx24vP1nUQ0pQYYivxCXVixj1TV8bCkZcxtSjpWQPAZJKg-xGFvW2xfbHg4dQXsqLCWXvmMJEuHQ5xTPpRt1SdnKyo8tadCnEmOhY_z.jpg) October 04, 2024 Convincing You to Work In Manufacturing Read Now For job seekers](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/work-in-manufacturing) ### [![](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported%20sitepage%20images/P7LetizJt1j6f4NLx03RP80duwdMcHExfpqQC-zpCObmZ0MseppJp-huiYj34UM-EbWXrpKQ5FotatCa-KIu5MdueDvIck0JmB-vNGbPHHJ0jYgwcWlTiE_pFO0QE7yGOvlHp39l.jpg?height=485&name=P7LetizJt1j6f4NLx03RP80duwdMcHExfpqQC-zpCObmZ0MseppJp-huiYj34UM-EbWXrpKQ5FotatCa-KIu5MdueDvIck0JmB-vNGbPHHJ0jYgwcWlTiE_pFO0QE7yGOvlHp39l.jpg) April 01, 2019 What Is Manufacturing Day and Should You Celebrate Read Now For employers](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/what-is-manufacturing-day-and-should-you-celebrate) ![](https://ontarioeast.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Mask-Group-4.svg) ## Subscribe to our eNewsletter ###### CONTACT US (613) 634-8569 623 Fortune Crescent, Suite 100 Kingston, ON K7P 0L5 [Email Us](mailto:info@ontarioeast.ca) ###### LINKS [Regional Profile](https://ontarioeast.ca/regional-profile/) [Available Properties](https://ontarioeast.ca/available-properties/) [Key Employment Sectors](https://ontarioeast.ca/key-employment-sectors/) [FAQs](https://ontarioeast.ca/faqs/) [News](https://ontarioeast.ca/news/) [Jobs & RFPs](https://ontarioeast.ca/jobs-rfps/) [Members](https://ontarioeast.ca/members/) [About Us](https://ontarioeast.ca/about-us/) [Events](https://ontarioeast.ca/events/) [Ontario East Municipal Conference](https://ontarioeast.ca/ontario-east-municipal-conference/) [Contact Us](https://ontarioeast.ca/contact-us/) ###### ZoomProspector [Admin Access Login](https://auth.zoomprospector.com/Account/Login?returnUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fadmin.zoomprospector.com%2FAccount%2FLoginCallback%3FreturnUrl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fadmin.zoomprospector.com%252F) © Ontario East Economic Development, 2026 Acme Co, Inc. 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