New Apple-funded program teaches manufacturing to US firms

AppleInsider

Apple has announced that it is opening its first Apple Manufacturing Academy in Detroit, providing a program of advanced manufacturing skills for US workers.

Apple will welcome workers from across the US to its Manufacturing Academy in Detroit -- image credit: Apple

If you really want to bring manufacturing jobs back to the US, you need to train people rather than impose tariffs. As part of its existing commitment to investing $500 billion in US businesses, Apple is launching an Apple Manufacturing Academy that will open with a two-day program on August 19, 2025.

"We're thrilled to welcome companies from across the country to the Apple Manufacturing Academy starting next month," said Sabih Khan, Apple's new chief operating officer in a statement. "Apple works with suppliers in all 50 states because we know advanced manufacturing is vital to American innovation and leadership."

"With this new programming," he continued, "we're thrilled to help even more businesses implement smart manufacturing so they can unlock amazing opportunities for their companies and our country."

Running in partnership with Michigan State University, the the new academy will follow broadly the same structure as existing Developer Academies, such as the one already in Detroit. It will host small and medium-sized businesses from across the US, and teach manufacturing and technology skills including:

• Machine learning and deep learning in manufacturing


• Automation in the product manufacturing industry


• Leveraging data to improve quality


• Applying digital technologies to operations

The sessions will initially consist of in-person workshops with Apple staff. Later in 2025, Apple says a virtual program will be added, specifically for issues such as project management.

Firms interested in applying and register for the first academy on Michigan State University's official site.

While this academy is newly announced, it's part of the long-standing $500 billion program that Apple is announcing piecemeal. The most recent addition to it is the investment into Texas-based firm MP Materials on a project to increase Apple's use of US-made rare earth magnets.



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bobcat62

Sounds like a certain corporation may be forced to manufacture here.

mikethemartian

Except that Apple doesn’t manufacture its own products and it is really companies like Foxconn who have that knowledge.

humbug1873

So Apple sends some of it's experts in manufacturing (probably all Chinese nationals) on how to screw in a screw ... and then to do that for 12-16 hours 6-7 days per week for about $1000 per month. Sounds about right.

bobcat62

mikethemartian said:

Except that Apple doesn’t manufacture its own products and it is really companies like Foxconn who have that knowledge.

Apple will force their partners to manufacture here.
There is no India tariff deal.  26 percent starts on August 1st.

spliff monkey

bobcat62 said:

mikethemartian said:

Except that Apple doesn’t manufacture its own products and it is really companies like Foxconn who have that knowledge.

Apple will force their partners to manufacture here.
There is no India tariff deal.  26 percent starts on August 1st.

Bringing manufacturing to the US will be a decade (-s) long endeavor, if ever. I fail to see how assembly line jobs will EVER appeal to Americans. By the time they get all of the details worked out, dear orange bloated leader will be out of office, if old age hasn't gotten him first and the tariffs will be swiftly removed by the next president. The effort would be worth none of the effort. It will make MUCH more sense for Apple to just pay the tariffs and raise prices globally to compensate. Make no mistake, buyers will pay for this folly. 

camber

mikethemartian said:

Except that Apple doesn’t manufacture its own products and it is really companies like Foxconn who have that knowledge.

Who do you think taught the workers in Taiwan and China how to make iPhones , Macs etc.? The book Apple in China by Patrick McGee explains how this happened in great detail. Apple engineers spent a lot of time at those factories coaching the workers on how to do things. They are probably the best qualified company in the world to run a manufacturing academy!

9secondkox2

mikethemartian said:

Except that Apple doesn’t manufacture its own products and it is really companies like Foxconn who have that knowledge.

Actually Apple is the one who supplies Foxconn with the instructions on how to assemble their products. The hardware is manufactured elsewhere but most of it is designed by Apple with specific instructions on how to manufacture their product components. Even screen makers like Samsung adhere to bezel attachments and ribbon layouts that Apple specifies. 

Apple doesn’t just draw a picture on an etch a sketch and leave it to some randos in Taiwan, China, and India. Those msnufacturing plants tool up and train employees based on Apple’s instructions. 

So Apple has quite a bit to teach when it comes to manufacturing  it is after all, an engineering form at heart and has been since inception, from the mouse, to the first small power supply, etc. when it comes to computing devices, Apple is the world’s foremost expert on msnufacturing.