In 2025 February, Apple announced its largest-ever investment commitment of $500 billion in the United States over the next four years, with significant focus on advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and sustainable supply chain initiatives. This massive investment will expand Apple’s operations across nine states, create thousands of jobs, and strengthen American manufacturing capabilities.
As Apple expands its U.S. manufacturing presence with a new server production facility in Houston and doubles its Advanced Manufacturing Fund to $10 billion, the company’s supply chain innovations are playing a crucial role in enabling this growth. Behind these advancements is Zihao Liu, a rising star in Apple’s Global Supply Management team, whose groundbreaking work in AI-driven forecasting and sustainable materials has helped position the company for this ambitious expansion.
“The future of manufacturing demands not just capital investment but intelligent systems that maximize efficiency and sustainability,” said Liu, who leads several critical initiatives as a Global Supply Manager at Apple. “Our AI-driven forecasting models have transformed how we predict parts demand, reducing supplier response times by threefold and generating millions in annual inventory savings.”
Apple’s investment plans include a 250,000-square-foot server manufacturing facility in Houston that will produce servers for Apple Intelligence. This facility will leverage cutting-edge manufacturing techniques, including machine learning sensors for real-time production monitoring—a technology that Liu helped implement in Apple’s existing operations.
Liu’s ML-enabled CNC sensor system has already delivered impressive results. This technology allows for real-time anomaly detection and data-driven process control, substantially improving machine uptime across manufacturing operations.
In alignment with Apple’s 2030 environmental goals, the investment package will also advance the company’s pioneering materials recovery and recycling initiatives. Liu has been at the forefront of these efforts, leading a groundbreaking project to create closed-loop recycling for 5K aluminum—a material previously considered unrecyclable in commercial applications due to its structural complexity.
The 5K aluminum recycling program marks a significant milestone in Apple’s sustainability journey. By successfully developing new recycling methodologies and restructuring supplier relationships, Liu’s team achieved 100% recycled aluminum supply for certain product enclosures, reducing dependency on virgin materials while maintaining Apple’s stringent quality standards.
Beyond his direct contributions to Apple’s operations, Liu has established himself as a thought leader in the field of supply chain management through his academic research. His published works on supply chain resilience, sustainability, and optimization have garnered significant attention in academic circles.
His paper “Data-Driven Optimization of Production Efficiency and Resilience in Global Supply Chains” has received 25 citations since its 2024 publication, while “Quantitative Assessment of Sustainable Supply Chain Practices” has accumulated 24 citations. These publications demonstrate how data-driven approaches can improve operational efficiency by up to 18% while generating substantial cost savings.
Liu’s research merges theoretical advancements with practical applications, leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning to optimize real-time decision-making processes. His forward-looking approach has earned him an impressive h-index of 3 and an i10-index of 3 early in his academic career, reflecting the significant impact of his work.
Apple’s investment will include the creation of a new Manufacturing Academy in Detroit, where small and medium-sized businesses will receive training on implementing AI and smart manufacturing techniques. This initiative aligns with Liu’s vision of democratizing advanced supply chain technologies.
“The next generation of manufacturing excellence will come from combining traditional expertise with cutting-edge data science,” Liu noted. “By making these technologies accessible to businesses of all sizes, we can strengthen America’s manufacturing base while driving innovation throughout the supply chain.”
Investment Details and Timeline
Apple’s $500 billion investment includes:
The investment will create approximately 20,000 new Apple jobs, with the majority focused on R&D, silicon engineering, software development, and AI/ML. Construction of the Houston facility will begin later this year, with production slated to start in 2026.
About Zihao Liu
Zihao Liu serves as a Global Supply Manager at Apple, where he leads initiatives focused on supply chain optimization, sustainability, and advanced manufacturing technologies. Liu holds degrees from Ohio State University and Bentley University, specializing in supply chain management. His research has been published in journals including the World Journal of Innovation and Modern Technology and the International Journal of Management Science Research, focusing on data-driven approaches to supply chain resilience, sustainability, and optimization.