Histories and Profits of 10 Leading Manufacturing Companies Around the World

Since the turn of the 20th century, manufacturing has taken over the global market. Advancements in technology and increasingly efficient manufacturing processes have given the world cars, planes, and robots, to name a few. 

Manufacturing has made access to products and services easier than ever. Learn about some of the leaders in manufacturing with NRTC Automation’s list of 10 manufacturing companies below. 

10 Leading Manufacturing Companies Since 1892 

SAMSUNG 

Samsung is headquartered in South Korea and made over $222 billion in 2019. As a relatively new company, Samsung has climbed the ladder to consistently make the top lists of manufacturing companies in the world. They are traditionally a home appliance and technology store, but they are beginning to focus on B2B demands for electronics. In 2019, Samsung unveiled the “Samsung Bot,” a next-generation AI robot with household capabilities, and they recently celebrated their 50th anniversary. 

GENERAL MOTORS 

In 1908 in New Jersey, William Durant created General Motors. Over the course of a century, General Motors grew into the powerhouse of classic American cars and, as of this year, the first company to produce self-driving vehicles. General Motors saw a revenue of $147 billion in 2019. 

NISSAN 

Nissan is a Japanese automobile manufacturer founded in 1928 with a Japanese translation of Automobile Manufacturing Co., Ltd., and officially joined the stock market in 1933 with its new name, Nissan. The company was the first Japanese automobile manufacturer to win the Deming Prize for engineering excellence in the 1950s and saw a rise in profits throughout the ‘60s and onward. With over $104 billion in revenue and continued innovations on their automobiles, Nissan makes the list. 

TOYOTA 

Toyota was founded over 75 years ago in Japan by Sakichi Toyoda, an inventor who used his funds from his inventions to create the company. Sakichi’s son, Kiichiro Toyoda, took over the business and established the car operations, producing the first Toyota engine in 1934. They changed the name from Toyoda to Toyota to make it easier to pronounce. Toyota cars are known for their dependability, and their $273 billion in revenue proves their reliability. 

VOLKSWAGEN 

Volkswagen was established as the “people’s car” in 1937 in Germany. The factory was initially under Nazi management until the war when the Allies destroyed the factory in an air raid. It was rebuilt under British control and grew rapidly from there. Volkswagen competes with the other top auto manufacturers, pulling in $278 billion in 2019. 

APPLE 

In 1976, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak founded Apple for computers. In less than 50 years, Apple rose the ranks to one of the leading companies in the world. With the event of the smartphone, Apple became a household name and generated a revenue of $266 billion in 2019. 

FORD 

Ford is a classic American company founded in 1903 by Henry Ford, building international fame with his Model T car. Fun fact: Ford also established the assembly line as we know it today, increasing manufacturing productivity to new heights. Ford’s cars were used extensively during both World Wars. In 2019, Ford Motors Company made $160 billion in revenue. 

MICROSOFT 

Bill Gates and Paul G. Allen created Microsoft in 1975, the name of which is inspired by the terms microcomputer and software. They started out with computers and branched out into video game consoles in 2001 with the release of the Xbox. Microsoft was tangled in many legal struggles in its 45-year history, but it continues to lead manufacturing around the world with a $110 billion revenue. 

HONDA 

Honda is known for its cars, but when Soichiro Honda and Takeo Fujisawa founded the company in 1949 in Japan, the first automobile they introduced was the “Dream” D-type motorcycle. Their first car was sold in the United States in 1969 and developed ASIMO, a humanoid robot to assist those with limited mobility. Honda generated over $115 billion in revenue in 2019. 

GENERAL ELECTRIC 

Last but not least, General Electric is the oldest company on this list. It was incorporated in 1892 and became one of the top manufacturing companies in the world with its diverse product range. Consumer products such as home appliances and electronics only make up a small portion of its profit, however; the company’s sales are mostly supported by the U.S. Department of Defense. GE’s revenue in 2019 was $120 billion, continuing to prevail in manufacturing after nearly 130 years. 

THE FUTURE OF MANUFACTURING 

Manufacturing has come a long way in the past century. With the development of cars, airplanes, robots, and more, the world has changed drastically due to manufacturing. Looking ahead to the future, many of the companies on this list are innovating their products to be more sustainable and efficient. With advancements in technology and an increasing awareness of our production, manufacturing has a challenging, yet bright, future. 

NEED SERVICES FOR YOUR GROWING MANUFACTURING BUSINESS? 

NRTC Automation is the leader in decommissioning and tear out services. With over a decade of experience, we are trusted by the top auto manufacturers around the world. NRTC Automation also offers robotic solutions to minimize disruption and downtime in the work area while emphasizing safety, speed, and efficiency. Visit NRTC Automation today for more information on our services.