Summary
Automation Alley is a World Economic Forum Advanced Manufacturing Hub (AMHUB) for North America and a nonprofit Industry 4.0 knowledge center with a global outlook and a regional focus. We facilitate public-private partnerships by connecting industry, education and government to fuel Michigan's economy.
It’s a familiar scene: a product is approaching a key development milestone but projected cost is above target. Teams begin looking for ways to close the gap through supplier negotiations, RFQs, sourcing events, component substitutions, or design changes. These...
In the early 2000s, HIROTEC Corporation recognized a unique opportunity to build a new manufacturing facility from the ground up. Rather than simply replicating traditional manufacturing methods, the company set out to create a world-class operation focused on...
The Michigan Auto Supplier Transition Program (MAST-P) has officially launched, introducing a statewide initiative designed to help Michigan’s small manufacturers in the internal combustion engine (ICE) industry successfully diversify into emerging manufacturing...
Manufacturers can achieve better cost control by adopting a design-to-cost strategy early in product development, integrating engineering, procurement, and supply chain insights to optimize costs while balancing quality, performance, and risk.
HIROTEC’s journey toward zero-operator manufacturing demonstrates how advanced robotics, flexible production systems, intelligent automation, and innovative vertical factory design can improve efficiency, reduce floor space by 30%, and advance autonomous automotive manufacturing.
Michigan launched the Michigan Auto Supplier Transition Program to provide small and underserved automotive suppliers with funding, technical assistance, and advisory services to help them scale operations and transition from internal combustion engine production to electric vehicle and adjacent industries.
