Wayne State University and Kyndryl (NYSE: KD) today announced a multi-year collaboration to create the IntelliMake research hub and pilot-scale factory at Wayne State’s James and Patricia Anderson College of Engineering. The initiative aims to demonstrate and co-develop intelligent, agentic AI manufacturing technologies, while training the next generation of AI-equipped engineers.
The collaboration will include joint workshops on AI, cybersecurity, and digital twins, as well as demonstration pods in the IntelliMake lab, enabling hands-on experimentation with real-world manufacturing challenges.
Preparing Manufacturers and Talent for AI Transformation
Kyndryl’s 2025 Readiness Report highlights a pressing workforce gap: 87% of leaders expect AI to reshape jobs within a year, yet only 29% feel their teams are ready. The IntelliMake initiative addresses this gap by combining people, process, and technology in a single environment designed for learning and experimentation.
“Through our collaboration with Wayne State on IntelliMake, we are working to replace brittle, fixed automation with resilient, people-centered innovation,” said Onofrio Pirrotta, SVP & Managing Director, Kyndryl. “This gives customers a hands-on view of what’s possible while training the next generation of AI talent to lead transformation.”
Wayne State’s dean, Dr. Ali Abolmaali, added: “IntelliMake exemplifies our commitment to advancing AI, automation, and education — while preparing engineers for the factories of the future.”
Intelligent, Agentic Manufacturing in Action
In its first phase, IntelliMake combines advanced computing and modular orchestration to demonstrate how AI agents can detect, adapt to, and recover from disruptions on a mock assembly line. The system is designed to:
- Reduce scrap and rework
- Improve product quality
- Provide workers with responsive tools and real-time insights
Kyndryl will orchestrate the platform using Kyndryl Bridge, a monitoring and management system for end-to-end infrastructure supporting the pilot factory.
Driving Detroit and Michigan Toward a $10 Trillion Opportunity
IntelliMake positions Detroit and Michigan at the forefront of the projected $10 trillion smart manufacturing market, where AI agents, robotics, and digital twins create self-optimizing, reconfigurable factories. The initiative was made possible through collaboration among Wayne State’s engineering college, provost office, research division, sponsored programs, and industry partnerships office, ensuring discoveries are scalable and applicable to real-world industrial operations.
By merging hands-on AI research with enterprise-class orchestration tools, IntelliMake demonstrates how agentic AI can transform modern manufacturing, while preparing engineers to lead the next wave of industrial innovation.
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