In Fort Lauderdale, a medical device company called MAKO Surgical designs and manufactures products that help orthopedic surgeons achieve optimal outcomes in hip and knee replacement surgery. Founded in 2004, the company placed No. 1 on the 2011 Deloitte Technology Fast 500 for rapid growth. In late 2011, the company announced that it was hiring for 100 new jobs, with average annual wages of $85,000.

MAKO’s highly advanced robotic arm technology assists the orthopedic surgeon in achieving consistently reproducible precision in knee and hip joint replacement. The firm also makes implants for a procedure that provides a less invasive method for knee resurfacing. Partial Knee Resurfacing is a treatment option designed to relieve pain and restore range of motion for adults with osteoarthritis that has not progressed to all three compartments of the knee.

In joining MAKO officials to announce the company’s expansion, Florida Gov. Rick Scott emphasized the need for college and high school students to be well grounded in math and science so as to prepare for careers at technology-oriented companies like MAKO. Indeed, MAKO’s rapid growth and record of helping surgeons, and ultimately patients, makes it a Great Manufacturing Story.