Operational Excellence at AFL – Creating the Infrastructure Behind AI

As demand continues to accelerate for broadband infrastructure, AI technologies, and hyperscale data center expansion, AFL has been making major investments across its Upstate operations to support this rapidly growing market. The company recently announced a substantial expansion of its South Carolina manufacturing footprint, reinforcing the critical role the Duncan operation plays in supporting next-generation connectivity and infrastructure needs.

During the visit, attendees will see several operational initiatives currently underway within the facility, including:

• Capital equipment expansion and equipment relocations
• Plant layout optimization
• Material flow improvements
• AME – AFL Manufacturing Excellence

A key focus of the visit will be AME – AFL Manufacturing Excellence – the company-wide operating system that defines how AFL approaches continuous improvement. Rather than leaving improvement to individual plants or isolated initiatives, AME provides a common, structured approach for how AFL operates, measures performance, and improves its manufacturing facilities across the organization.

AME is organized around a pillar structure, with cross-functional teams responsible for defined areas of performance and for establishing annual strategic priorities. Attendees will gain insight into how this system helps translate continuous improvement from a collection of projects into a consistent way of operating.

The visit will provide an opportunity to see how a global manufacturer is using people, process, operational discipline, and a structured continuous improvement system to manage significant growth while improving the operation around it.

With demand being driven by AI, hyperscale data centers, broadband expansion, and digital infrastructure modernization, AFL offers an especially timely example of what it takes to scale manufacturing without losing focus on operational excellence.