Expanding its commitment to American manufacturing, Apple plans to establish the Apple Manufacturing Academy in Detroit in summer 2025. It comes in collaboration with Michigan State University (MSU), the school said Thursday. And offering in-person and virtual training, it will work with small- and medium-sized businesses nationwide.
“The Apple Manufacturing Academy will train businesses across America to implement smart manufacturing techniques that are creating opportunity and shaping the future of technology,” said Sabih Khan, Apple’s senior vice president of Operations.
“Apple is proud to work with suppliers in all 50 states — and starting this summer, we’re excited to work with Michigan State University to expand American manufacturing leadership and help even more companies innovate and grow,” he added.
Apple and MSU collaborate to open Apple Manufacturing Academy in Detroit in summer 2025
On a day when the Trump administration’s new tariffs sent Apple and other stocks plummeting, MSU said the academy will open in summer 2025 in the First National Building in downtown Detroit. It will provide specialized training and support for small and medium-sized manufacturing businesses across the United States. It follows the successful Apple Developer Academy, which opened in Detroit in 2021. The Apple Manufacturing Academy in Detroit gives Apple another way to contribute to technological advancement and workforce development in the United States — particularly in the critical manufacturing sector.
The initiative behind the Apple Manufacturing Academy in Detroit represents Apple’s continued investment in U.S. innovation and advanced manufacturing. While based in Detroit, the academy will serve manufacturing businesses from across the country through both in-person and virtual offerings. The program will feature Apple engineers working alongside MSU experts to consult with businesses. They’ll help implement artificial intelligence and smart manufacturing techniques to enhance operations.
The academy will provide free training courses covering essential skills. They include project management, manufacturing process optimization and leadership development. The programs aim to boost productivity, efficiency and quality throughout manufacturing supply chains.
Transforming industry
“With our strong programs in supply chain, logistics, engineering and packaging and our commitment to be an industry leader in AI advancements, Michigan State is a perfect partner for this new effort, and we greatly appreciate the ongoing collaboration with Apple,” said MSU President Kevin M. Guskiewicz. “Further, this project perfectly aligns with our mission around community outreach and our desire to solve the world’s problems, and we look forward to working side by side with manufacturing companies to transform this essential industry.”
As noted above, this isn’t the first collaboration between Apple and MSU. The two organizations, with support from the Gilbert Family Foundation, operate the Apple Developer Academy in downtown Detroit. Since 2021, the program has graduated approximately 200 participants per year. Another cohort will complete the program this summer. Would-be participants in the developer academy can submit applications for the fall 2025 cohort now.
Source: Michigan State University
