The digital transformation of manufacturing has its Apple moment
I always said that bringing Apple manufacturing to the US would require heavy use of automation and robotics, now it seems as if Apple thinks so too.
The Apple Manufacturing Academy is working to accelerate Al use across US manufacturing and supply chains.
How Apple is using AI to change US manufacturing
The Academy recently hosted hundreds of manufacturers, industry leaders, and academics at its inaugural Spring Forum at Michigan State University (MSU). The event placed particular focus on how businesses are already transforming how they operate thanks to what they learned at the Apple Manufacturing Academy.
Launched last year as part of Apple’s $600 billion commitment to manufacturing in the US, the Academy is a free program that pairs Apple engineers and MSU experts with small- and medium-sized U.S. businesses to help them implement Al and smart manufacturing techniques. It is the only manufacturing academy in North America and is open to businesses nationwide.
The Spring Forum featured a conversation between Balasubramaniam and Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Michigan State University’s president. They discussed how Al is transforming day-to-day manufacturing operations, the skills workers and students will need to thrive in an Al-enabled economy, and why the partnership between Apple and Michigan State is central to preparing the next generation of American manufacturers.
The digital transformation of manufacturing
Speakers from McKinsey, Magna, LightGuide, Medtronic, and other industry leaders addressed topics ranging from the role of physical Al on the factory floor to overcoming the challenges of implementing Al solutions at scale.
The event also saw some manufacturing case studies shared. Medical imaging equipment company Block Imaging explained how it has taken what it learned at the Academy to improve efficiency through digital transformation on the factory floor.
Katie Runyon, Block Imaging’s director of Technical Training said, “The Apple Manufacturing Academy has had a direct impact on how we operate.
“The training we’ve received from Apple engineers and Michigan State experts has given our team practical tools and techniques we’ve been able to apply immediately on the floor, improving the way we work and the quality of what we deliver to healthcare providers. We keep coming back because the program continues to push us forward.”
To date, the academy has supported more than 150 American businesses through dozens of free in-person training sessions and recently launched virtual programming to extend that support even further.
Apple’s view on AI and US manufacturing”
“We created the Apple Manufacturing Academy with Michigan State because we wanted to bring advanced manufacturing techniques to American manufacturers,” Priya Balasubramaniam, Apple’s vice president of Product Operations (above), told attendees during the forum. “Our goal was to create real-world applications that help companies enhance their productivity and efficiency.”
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