MSU hosts Apple manufacturing forum

Michigan State University and Apple used a two-day forum in East Lansing on April 30 and May 1 to show how artificial intelligence is moving from pilot projects into factory operations. The inaugural Apple Manufacturing Academy Spring Forum brought together manufacturers, academics, students and suppliers at the Wharton Center for Performing Arts, according to Michigan State and Apple. The event focused on how companies are applying AI in production, quality, supply chain and engineering rather than treating it as a research topic alone. More than 260 participants from 16 states attended, making it the academy’s largest event to date. ### Why was Michigan State hosting an Apple manufacturing event? Michigan State University said the forum was part of the Apple Manufacturing Academy, a program it runs with Apple to help small- and medium-sized businesses adopt AI and smart manufacturing techniques. The academy is free to participants and pairs Apple engineers with MSU experts for training and consultations. Since launching in fall 2025, the program has supported nearly 150 American businesses, MSU said ahead of the event. (msutoday.msu.edu) Apple said the academy was created with Michigan State to bring advanced manufacturing techniques to U.S. manufacturers. The company framed the Spring Forum as a showcase for how participating businesses are using academy training to change day-to-day operations on factory floors and across supply chains. (msutoday.msu.edu) ### What did speakers say AI is actually doing inside factories? Apple vice president of product operations Priya Balasubramaniam told attendees that AI has “important use cases for manufacturing” and said gains in productivity and efficiency would be significant as adoption expands. MSU said keynote talks and practical sessions centered on business operations, quality control, supply chain management and engineering. (apple.com) The event page described the program as an immersive look at how AI is transforming manufacturing. Joshua Siegel, an assistant professor of computer science and engineering at MSU, said some manufacturers remain hesitant to adopt AI because they are driven by perfect predictions rather than broader coverage, according to MSU’s recap. MSU President Kevin M. Guskiewicz said the university’s responsibility was to teach AI and machine learning “in a responsible way,” including input from humanities and social science faculty as well as technical specialists. (msutoday.msu.edu) ### Which companies and executives were in the room? MSU’s pre-event release listed speakers from Apple, Lear, Magna, Guidewheel, McKinsey, LightGuide, Medtronic and the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center. Apple executives included Balasubramaniam, Shawn Henze, senior director of technical operations, and Rahul Kapoor, director of machine learning and infrastructure. MSU also listed Kevin Guskiewicz, Provost Laura Lee McIntyre, Sanjay Gupta and Matt Elliott among participants. (msutoday.msu.edu) The mix of speakers showed the forum was aimed at manufacturers trying to apply AI in existing operations rather than software companies alone. That characterization is based on the roles MSU assigned to speakers in quality, operations, supply chain and manufacturing services. ### What examples did Apple and MSU point to? (msutoday.msu.edu) Block Imaging, a Michigan company that services and refurbishes medical imaging equipment, hosted forum attendees at its facility on May 1. Apple said the company had used lessons from the academy to modernize operations and improve efficiency on the factory floor. Katie Runyon, Block Imaging’s director of technical training, said the training from Apple engineers and Michigan State experts gave the company tools it could apply immediately. (msutoday.msu.edu) Michigan State said May 1 tours also took participants to the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, Peckham and the MSU Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Facility. The tours were designed to show registered attendees how AI was being used in real-world manufacturing and operational settings. ### What happens after the forum? (apple.com) The Apple Manufacturing Academy website lists additional in-person sessions for May 12-13 on data, June 9-10 on quality, and July 14-15. The site also says Apple engineers and Michigan State experts offer consultations for businesses working through specific AI and smart manufacturing challenges. Applications for online courses remain open through the academy website, according to Michigan State. (msutoday.msu.edu) (manufacturingacademy.msu.edu)