This paper presents how the lead plant role within an international manufacturing network (IMN) is expressed from a site perspective, in relation to key competitive factors. A participative observational study of a workshop series with five Swedish manufacturing sites, all working within international companies, showed how the sites’ interests challenges and supports the interests of the IMNs. The lead plants are to lead the development and dissemination of new knowledge, but still being competitive in efficiency and delivery. Strong positions within the six analysed competitive factors were generally expressed as positive abilities for being a lead plant within an IMN.