Schneider Electric Invests $40 Million to Strengthen U.S. Supply Chain

- Investment will increase manufacturing capacity and introduces more than 130 new jobs in the U.S. in 2020 and 2021

- Funding will go towards new equipment and software solutions, in addition to more digital training for employees across Iowa, Kentucky, Nebraska, and Texas

News provided by

Schneider Electric

Nov 10, 2020, 11:01 ET

BOSTON, Nov. 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, today announced an additional $40 million investment towards modernizing its U.S manufacturing plants in Iowa, Kentucky, Nebraska, and Texas. The monies will go towards innovative technologies and new production lines that will help increase Schneider Electric's capacity of operations in the U.S. for its customers, as well as further develop its local workforce.

COVID-19 placed a spotlight on the critical vulnerabilities global manufacturing and supply chains can face during unprecedented disruption. This additional stake in the U.S. is part of a larger, strategic approach to strengthen resilience, increase flexibility, and safeguard its supply chain. The initiative will provide Schneider Electric with greater control of its production processes that will help them deliver quality products and services to its customers, while introducing new learning opportunities to the workforce.

"This investment demonstrates our continued commitment to both our customers and our employees, while setting the foundation for the future," said Annette Clayton, CEO and President, Schneider Electric North America. "We now have the technology and resources available to expand and efficiently produce more locally. By modernizing and localizing our operations, we can better serve our customers and minimize the risk of interruption when we face the challenges of global economic changes."

For example, Schneider Electric's smart factory in Lexington, KY recently earned the distinction of 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) Advanced Lighthouse by the World Economic Forum, becoming the third of its factories to receive this honor. The factory was recognized for its success in adopting Industry 4.0 technologies at scale with demonstrated benefits around energy efficiency, sustainability and overall cost savings, while offering increasing agility and resiliency within the operation.

As U.S.-based companies increasingly look to reshore more of their manufacturing operations, the industry is creating more jobs that will require a new wave of a skilled workforce to fill them. In Schneider Electric's case, the company has hired and pledges to hire 130 new employees through early 2021. This new era of investing in smart manufacturing and automation tools is not only introducing the opportunity to upskill the industrial workforce, but it can help attract new talent and have a positive impact against the skills gap concerns the industry faces. As part of this investment, Schneider Electric employees will receive more digital training opportunities and tools that will enable them to adopt new skill sets and work more efficiently in a modern setting.

For more information about Schneider Electric's EcoStruxure architecture and IIoT-enabled solutions, please visit: https://www.se.com/us/en/work/campaign/innovation/overview.jsp

About Schneider Electric

Schneider's purpose is to empower all to make the most of our energy and resources, bridging progress and sustainability for all. We call this Life Is On.

Our mission is to be your digital partner for Sustainability and Efficiency.

We drive digital transformation by integrating world-leading process and energy technologies, end-point to cloud connecting products, controls, software and services, across the entire lifecycle, enabling integrated company management, for homes, buildings, data centers, infrastructure and industries.

We are the most local of global companies. We are advocates of open standards and partnership ecosystems that are passionate about our shared Meaningful Purpose, Inclusive and Empowered values.

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SOURCE Schneider Electric