Wolfspeed's ambitious expansion plans unveiled at supplier event in Chatham County

By Gene Galin

Pittsboro, NC – In a grand showcase of innovation and growth, Wolfspeed, a leading player in the semiconductor industry, presented its ambitious expansion plans during a supplier event held at the Chatham Agricultural Center on August 29, 2023. The event shed light on Wolfspeed’s vision to build the world’s largest silicon carbide factory in Siler City, North Carolina. This significant undertaking, with plans to increase production tenfold, is poised to reshape the semiconductor landscape and have far-reaching implications for various industries.

The sprawling Siler City factory, stretching across a staggering 445 acres and encompassing eight buildings under one roof, is set to become Wolfspeed’s flagship production facility. Leslie Buckheit, Senior Director of Indirect Procurement at Wolfspeed, welcomed attendees and emphasized the magnitude of this project. “That is more than 36 football fields under one building,” she exclaimed, providing a vivid perspective of the factory’s colossal scale.

Wolfspeed’s Commitment to Community and DiversityWolfspeed’s involvement in various local and national programs demonstrates its commitment to being an integral part of the community. The company actively collaborates with multiple groups to minimize barriers to success. Their dedication to diversity and inclusion is evident through their focus on diverse and small business programs. Joe Tarica, leading the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiative, highlighted Wolfspeed’s goal to have five percent of their expenditure directed towards small and diverse suppliers by 2025. However, for the Siler City facility, the aim is even higher – an ambitious 20 percent. This demonstrates not only direct engagement with small and diverse businesses but also encouraging tier-one suppliers to participate.

Expansive Bid OpportunitiesWolfspeed’s expansion plans are accompanied by an extensive list of competitive bids in various procurement areas. The company’s commitment to transparency was evident as they showcased these opportunities, a clear invitation for potential partners to join them in their journey. Buckheit encouraged attendees to visit the front table, construction management, or facilities table for a more comprehensive list of upcoming bids. These bids will be a substantial source of opportunities for suppliers over the next year and beyond.

Material Operations and Silicon Carbide’s SignificanceDave McGregor, Senior Director of Operations at Wolfspeed, then took the stage to delve into the intricacies of material operations. He highlighted that Wolfspeed currently supplies about 60 percent of the world’s silicon carbide, emphasizing the significance of this material in the semiconductor industry. Silicon carbide’s unique properties, which allow for the creation of power transistors capable of switching large currents and voltages rapidly, are driving innovation in industries such as electric vehicle charging.

McGregor also explained the challenges of manufacturing silicon carbide, particularly its requirement for precise atomic arrangements. He shared that the Siler City facility would focus on producing eight-inch silicon carbide wafers with a single polytype, a complex process that demands a high level of precision and expertise.

Material Procurement and CollaborationChris Miksa, Senior Director of Material at Wolfspeed, expanded on the company’s procurement needs. He described how Wolfspeed, as a vertically integrated company, manages everything from product design to final testing and packaging. However, with the Siler City factory, they are open to partnerships in areas such as precision machining and metal fabrication, which may not make sense to handle in-house at the scale they are envisioning. Miksa also emphasized the importance of strong communication, structured problem-solving, and ethical conduct among their suppliers.

Automation Partnerships and Quality ExpectationsChris Miksa also highlighted the custom automation solutions that will be implemented in the Siler City factory, noting that opportunities for collaboration exist with their key supply partners in the automation space. He reiterated Wolfspeed’s expectations regarding quality, emphasizing that suppliers should aim to keep issues small through effective communication and participate in structured problem-solving when challenges arise. Additionally, ethical conduct is non-negotiable, and Wolfspeed provides channels for anonymous reporting if concerns arise.

Suppliers interested in collaborating with Wolfspeed on this groundbreaking project are encouraged to explore the diverse opportunities offered and embrace the company’s values of quality and ethics. Wolfspeed’s vision is not only to advance technology but also to foster a more inclusive and sustainable future.

Quick Notes

View the Wolfspeed Introduction on YouTube.

00:14 Wolfspeed is building the world’s largest silicon carbide factory in North Carolina.

01:54 Wolfspeed is committed to working with small and diverse suppliers

03:21 The Siler City site will be 10 times bigger than the Durham factory and will manufacture silicon carbide.

04:45 Silicon carbide enables the manufacturing of power transistors for industries like electric vehicles.

06:15 Wolfspeed is scaling up the production of silicon carbide wafers in Siler City

07:47 The Siler City factory is the first of its kind in terms of automation.

09:05 Opportunities for collaboration with suppliers and focus on quality

10:29 Driving root cause analysis and prevention, establishing good partnerships, and promoting ethics in supplier relationships.

Tags: Chris Miksa Dave McGregor Leslie Buckheit Wolfspeed