Lenovo Opens US Manufacturing Line

Oct. 3, 2012

World’s second-largest PC company to create 115 electronics manufacturing jobs in North Carolina.

Lenovo believes in the "long-term strength of the American PC market" explained Yuanqing Yang, CEO of Lenovo, as the company announced it was setting up shop in Whitsett, N.C.

The plant, which will employ 115, will build Think-branded notebook and desktop PCs, tablets, engineering workstations and servers for sale to domestic businesses, government and education customers, as well as consumers.

“As Lenovo expands globally, we are establishing even deeper roots in each major market,” Yang added. “In addition to localized sales and marketing teams, in our major countries we are establishing an even stronger manufacturing footprint, investing in R&D and ensuring that we hire top local talent.”

The new U.S. PC manufacturing line currently is under construction and scheduled to open early in 2013. It will reside within Lenovo’s recently expanded 240,000-square-foot U.S. distribution center in Whitsett, N.C., approximately 10 miles east of Greensboro.

The company said it believes that having a manufacturing capability in the U.S. can provide the capability to deliver products to customers even more quickly and reliably in many situations, while offering an even broader and more valuable set of PC-related services.

“The trend lately has been for manufacturing jobs to be created abroad, but some of the brightest and best trained talent in these high-tech fields can be found right here in America, “ said Senator Richard Burr.

The company said that its U.S. PC production line is the latest investment in its strategy to expand its in-house manufacturing capabilities around the world, which the company believes will speed product innovation and support rapid business growth.

Over the past two years, Lenovo has invested in new plants and manufacturing joint ventures in China, Brazil to produce PCs and smartphones.

About the Author

Adrienne Selko | Senior Editor

Focus: Workforce, Talent

Follow Me on Twitter: @ASelkoIW

Bio: Adrienne Selko has written about many topics over the 17 years she has been with the publication and currently focuses on workforce development strategies. Previously Adrienne was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck? which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics and EHS Today.

Editorial mission statement: Manufacturing is the enviable position of creating products, processes and policies that solve the world’s problems. When the industry stepped up to manufacture what was necessary to combat the pandemic, it revealed its true nature. My goal is to showcase the sector’s ability to address a broad range of workforce issues including technology, training, diversity & inclusion, with a goal of enticing future generations to join this amazing sector.

Why I find manufacturing interesting: On my first day working for a company that made medical equipment such as MRIs, I toured the plant floor. On every wall was a photo of a person, mostly children. I asked my supervisor why this was the case and he said that the work we do at this company has saved these people’s lives. “We never forget how important our work is and everyone’s contribution to that.” From that moment on I was hooked on manufacturing.

I have talked with many people in this field who have transformed their own career development to assist others. For example, companies are hiring those with disabilities, those previously incarcerated and other talent pools that have been underutilized. I have talked with leaders who have brought out the best in their workforce, as well as employees doing their best work while doing good for the world.