From the newsletter of the Massachusetts Manufacturing Advancement Center -- Reflections on the Future of Manufacturing in Central Massachusetts by Dr. K. (Subbu) Subramanian, Director - Core Technology (SPT), High Performance Materials Sector, Saint- Gobain Co.:
As the cost of information processing and physical logistics – a large fraction of which are the result of human efforts today – continues to decline, manufacturing new "things" using "new processes", rich with digital technology applications, will soar to new heights around the world.
The drivers of such developments will be the education, knowledge, and skill levels of the local work force.
In other words, the driving forces of manufacturing are intangibles.
Just a small point about the 'hunter-gatherer' bit. In fact, they have much more leisure-time than we do. No I-pods/HFCS/SUV/yahta.......but a lot more time to contemplate navels-theirs or their squeez's.