BANNOCKBURN, IL—Following economic setbacks in 2009, the world market for electronics manufacturing services continued to recover in 2011 and 2012 and is projected to grow this year 9.4 percent globally and 8.9 percent in North America.

LYONS, PA—East Penn Manufacturing Co. Inc. is investing $100 million to build a new assembly plant here to make batteries for forklifts and automobiles.

Increasingly, China is losing its cost advantages. Workers are striking at Chinese factories. Chinese suppliers copy Western products to become competitors. Time to market is longer. And now we can add electronic espionage.

ZHENGZHOU, China—Foxconn workers returned to the assembly line here after walking off their jobs Saturday. A dispute occurred between the production and quality teams at the factory, which makes the Apple iPhone 5.

GREENSBORO, NC—Electronics manufacturer Lenovo will start assembling tablet, notebook and desktop computers at its warehouse here. The company will hire 115 employees.

AURORA, CO—Electronics manufacturing services provider Advanced Circuits is building a 51,000-square-foot addition to its assembly plant here. The extra space will provide room for additional capital equipment.

FOND DU LAC, WI—Wells Vehicle Electronics, a manufacturer of vehicle electronics, will construct new headquarters here and expand its existing assembly plant, creating up to 73 jobs.

Many products made in low-wage countries could, in fact, be produced here economically. There are three reasons why they are not.

TAIYUAN, China—Contract manufacturer Foxconn, a major supplier for Apple, has halted production at its assembly plant here after some 2,000 workers rioted.