WUHAN, China—Testing at China's first smart manufacturing plant for satellites has begun here, with production scheduled to begin in March.

AUSTIN, TX—Samsung is planning to build a $10 billion semiconductor-fabrication facility alongside its existing facility here, with the first wafers set to be produced in 2023.

BERLIN—German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier has asked Taiwan to persuade Taiwanese manufacturers to help ease a shortage of semiconductor chips in the auto sector, which is hampering Germany's economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

CUPERTINO, CA—Apple has placed a second major supplier in Asia on probation after finding that the company delayed payments to workers—a breach that spurred vandalism at a factory in India in December.

Automation engineers have developed ingenious ways to mechanically singulate and orient parts in a feeder bowl.

MT. PLEASANT, WI–Foxconn is reportedly planning to assemble Google server components at its beleaguered factory here.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA—BAE Systems is investing more than $100 million to build a state-of-the-art electronics assembly and R&D lab here.