Ann Arbor, MI, December 13, 2024—The National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) has released a white paper on NCMS initiatives that successfully utilize AI to improve supply chain resilience. Presenting two case studies of straightforward, inexpensive, high-value solutions that can be adapted by small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs), the white paper aims to assist SMMs in harnessing the power of AI to improve their operations by preventing supply chain disruptions.  

“Resilient supply chains are necessary for a strong American manufacturing sector and many other sectors that are essential to our prosperity and national security,” said NCMS President and CEO Lisa Strama. “NCMS is strongly committed to advancing AI in manufacturing.” 

Featuring the most up-to-date research on the secure and effective implementation of AI throughout the manufacturing sector, the white paper focuses on recent federal AI initiatives, including advancements in the Department of Commerce’s Supply Chain Center, as well as AI standards from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).  

Specifically, the white paper details how two NCMS initiatives have contributed to solutions for three issues impeding more widespread adoption of AI in the manufacturing sector: (1) preserving data privacy, (2) creating a standard and secure way to selectively share data in useful forms to different organizations, and (3) helping SMMs see the benefits of using their manufacturing operational and product data to fuel AI models, and sharing this data with public-private partnerships that can contribute demonstrations of scalable AI solutions for a wide range of manufacturing problems. 

“Currently, multiple federal organizations are emphasizing the need to expand public-private partnerships to accelerate AI for supply chain resilience,” said Strama. “NCMS strongly supports public-private partnerships that promote the secure use of AI across the manufacturing sector.”  

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