Apple’s push to modernize U.S. manufacturing took a visible step forward late last week at the inaugural Apple Manufacturing Academy Spring Forum in East Lansing, Michigan. It was the academy’s largest gathering to date, Apple said.
Hundreds of manufacturers, industry leaders and academics converged on Michigan State University’s campus to share how the program is already changing the way American businesses operate. That includes a push for artificial intelligence in supply chains and on factory floors.
“We created the Apple Manufacturing Academy with Michigan State because we wanted to bring advanced manufacturing techniques to American manufacturers,” said Priya Balasubramaniam, Apple’s vice president of product operations, in a press release Tuesday. “Our goal was to create real-world applications that help companies enhance their productivity and efficiency.”
Apple Manufacturing Academy Spring Forum: A real-world showcase
Launched last year as part of Apple’s $600 billion commitment to manufacturing in the United States, the free Apple Manufacturing Academy pairs Apple engineers and MSU experts with small- and medium-size U.S. businesses to help them implement AI and smart manufacturing techniques. It is the only manufacturing academy of its kind in North America and is open to companies nationwide, according to Apple. The first Spring Forum showcased progress so far.
Onsite at Block Imaging
Photo: Apple
One of the forum’s highlights was an tour of Block Imaging. The Michigan-based company services and refurbishes medical imaging equipment — CT scanners, MRI machines and X-ray systems used by healthcare providers across the country. Other stops included the MSU Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, Peckham and the MSU Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center.
Block Imaging hosted forum attendees at its facility for an interactive tour. They saw firsthand how the company applied learnings from the program to modernize its operations and improve efficiency on the factory floor.
“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,” said Katie Runyon, the company’s technical training director. She added that the improvements have raised the quality of what Block Imaging delivers to healthcare providers.
What happened at the forum
Photo: Apple
On MSU’s campus, the forum’s first day featured speakers from McKinsey, Magna, LightGuide, Medtronic and other industry names. Topics ranged from the role of physical AI on the factory floor to overcoming the challenges of implementing AI solutions at scale. The day closed with a poster session in which MSU students and business participants presented their work. That opened a window into the next generation of American manufacturing talent.
A fireside chat between Apple’s Balasubramaniam and MSU president Kevin M. Guskiewicz rounded out the program. The conversation covered how AI is reshaping day-to-day manufacturing work, what skills will be needed in an AI-enabled economy, and why the Apple-Michigan State partnership matters for the country’s industrial future.
“We’re very excited about Block Imaging and other participating companies that are now making use of what they’re learning in the academy to deliver great results,” Balasubramaniam said.
To date, the academy has supported more than 150 American businesses through dozens of free in-person training sessions, Apple said, with recently launched virtual programming to extend that support. Businesses interested in enrolling can find more information at manufacturingacademy.msu.edu.
David Snow, an expert on Apple hardware and software, writes on a variety of technological and cultural topics for Cult of Mac. They include Apple news, technology buying guides, and features about computer setups and Apple TV shows and movies.
With 30 years of experience covering technology and other subjects, he has written and edited for numerous print and online publications, including CMP Media, TechTV.com, CNET, Wired News, Red Herring magazine, Law.com, The National Law Journal and Law Technology News magazine. Among other roles, he served as executive editor of the Law.com network of websites and editorial director, technology, for ALM Media.
Snow graduated with a B.A. from Syracuse University with majors in magazine journalism and psychology. While there, he worked as a reporter for The Daily Orange newspaper and associate editor of Equal Time magazine.
Founder of the blog At the Waterline, he can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) via @atthewaterline and on Mastodon via @dsnow.
