The Alabama Productivity Center is proud to announce an ISO Systems Open Enrollment Training Series. This series gives organizations the tools, knowledge, and understanding of two ISO standards and internal auditing practices.  

     Save the date for December 1st - 3rd for this three-day training series located at the Innovation Portal in Mobile, AL. Details of each day are listed below. 

Get introduced to the new ISO 14001 standard and explore key requirements for effective environmental management systems. Learn what the updates mean for organizations preparing to implement or transition their EMS.

Build your understanding of ISO 9001 and the core requirements of an effective quality management system. Explore how the standard supports consistent processes, continual improvement, and customer satisfaction.

Watch the video above to see our last ISO Open Enrollment. 

     APC intern Samuel “Alex” Campbell, a Physics PhD student at The University of Alabama, spent his summer helping S T Bunn Construction Company explore new ways to use artificial intelligence and operational data.

     Alex developed a custom AI agent to analyze trucking performance, identify inefficiencies, and improve fleet decisions. He also created an Excel automation tool to streamline the company’s daily trucking report.

     The project resulted in an estimated $500,000 in operational savings and demonstrated how APC internships connect student expertise with real industry challenges.

Read the full story to learn more about Alex’s work and its impact at S T Bunn Construction.

     The Alabama Department of Commerce has achieved ISO 9001:2015 certification following an 18-month collaboration with the Alabama Productivity Center (APC).

     APC worked alongside Commerce to develop and implement a comprehensive quality management system, providing technical assistance, documentation development, employee training, internal auditing, and ongoing support throughout the certification process. The project also included a graduate student intern who worked with APC and Commerce for three semesters.

     In August 2026, Commerce received “Unconditional Approval” for ISO 9001:2015 certification, making Alabama the only state in the nation with this distinction.

     The achievement reflects Commerce’s commitment to operational excellence and continuous improvement while demonstrating the impact of collaboration between Alabama industry, government, and higher education.

From Alabama to the world: UA helps businesses grow through exporting

“The business of exporting has always happened but has been kind of under the radar,” said Brian Davis, who oversees the Alabama International Trade Center in UA’s Office for Business Engagement Services. “There are companies all over the state that started in Alabama and are successful exporters.”

Read the report here 

Alabama Department of Commerce earns ISO certification for Quality Management

The Alabama Department of Commerce has earned ISO 9001:2015 certification for its quality management system, becoming the first statewide economic development agency in the nation to achieve the internationally recognized standard.

Read the story here

Alabama Training Network Awarded $2.19 Million to Continue Serving as Alabama’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership Center

The Alabama Training Network (ATN) has been awarded $2,191,702 from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to continue its work as Alabama’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Center.

Read the story here

Manufacturing Institute, Alabama Community College System partner to deploy AI skills training

Manufacturing Institute and the Alabama Community College System signed a Memorandum of Understanding to bring the institute’s AI Skills for Manufacturing Training Suite to community colleges across Alabama.

Read the story here

Interested in having your story featured? Use the link below to submit news and updates, and APC may feature it in an upcoming edition of The APC Advantage.

     Founded in 1986 on the campus of The University of Alabama, Alabama Productivity Center is a nonprofit organization focused on strengthening Alabama’s workforce, industries, and economic development through education, industry partnerships, professional services, and student engagement opportunities, including a unique internship program.

     APC continues supporting businesses and communities across the state through workforce development, operational support, and collaborative industry initiatives.