For over 25 years of working in manufacturing, I've watched our industry transform in response to advances in technology and an increasingly connected global supply chain.

However, no greater challenge faces American manufacturers today than building a workforce well-equipped to leverage advances in AI and technology while continuing to build institutional knowledge for the future of our industry.

As GE Appliances builds out our historic $3 billion investment in our U.S. manufacturing operations over the next five years, we are equally committed to finding ways to build institutional knowledge in our workforce and empower real-time problem-solving by integrating advanced technology into our operations. 

Empowering Problem-Solving from the Bottom Up 

The key to making the most of our new investments in U.S. manufacturing is empowering our people to leverage AI tools in ways that truly add value to their work. Across our plants, GE Appliances teams are encouraging innovation from the bottom up, where the people closest to the work are building solutions to solve problems around real operational needs.

Our AI Champions program has trained more than 80 employees across manufacturing on building AI tools to allow for peer-to-peer knowledge sharing that builds expertise across the plant. Through this program, teams have developed dozens of AI-enabled tools, from production simulators that let us test line changes before implementing them, to automated shift reports that capture critical operational data in minutes instead of hours.

These employee-driven tools turn real-time production data into insights employees can use to close the knowledge gap between experienced specialists and up-and-coming employees, helping our teams make decisions faster, independently, and more effectively.

When a stopped assembly line can cost $300 to $500 per minute, making sure that our teams on the floor are not only equipped, but empowered to find proactive solutions is why we are America’s #1 appliance company.  Industry 5.0. is here, and we’re committed to building a workplace where ideas can come from anywhere, collaboration drives progress and employees have the opportunity to turn ideas into meaningful innovations.

Closing the Knowledge Gap

It's closing this knowledge gap that's at the heart of what we're doing. When experienced workers retire, historically their expertise leaves with them. Now, with AI, we can retain more of their expertise and move forward faster with better informed decisions about how we operate.

American manufacturing is at a turning point, and the companies that are proving they can build here are the ones that use technology advances to capture and scale institutional knowledge.

Luther Ingram is executive director of Roper, GE Appliances’ cooking products operation in LaFayette, Georgia, and America’s largest cooking plant.