Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance

03/13/2026

Big news for the Port of Inola and the future of manufacturing in Oklahoma!

Sofidel Group—one of the world’s leading tissue manufacturers—is expanding its integrated facility at the Tulsa Port of Inola with a $775 million investment. The project includes the construction of new facilities to support an additional tissue machine, expanded warehouse space, and a fully automated finished goods facility.

Once complete, the expansion will add nearly 1 million square feet and create approximately 185 new jobs. This investment further demonstrates why the Port of Inola is a strategic location for advanced manufacturing and distribution.

Read the full story at the link in the comments!

03/11/2026

𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐍 𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐒𝐄

Oklahoma manufacturers and other industry leaders are invited to a special Open House at the OMA Advanced Manufacturing Center, March 30 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. It's an opportunity to see the center’s technology demonstrations firsthand and learn how the facility can support companies exploring automation, process improvements, and other technology-related solutions. Co-hosts include center sponsors Tulsa Ports, Claremore Industrial and Economic Development Authority (CIEDA), Claremore Economic Development, and Rogers County Development.

More Here: https://lnkd.in/gi9b_Njq

Participants can tour the facility and speak directly to OMA’s Technical Services team about how these tools can be applied in real manufacturing environments. The event will also introduce several new technologies and capabilities coming online at the center, including emerging tools related to automation, data-driven manufacturing, and artificial intelligence. Whether your company is already investing in advanced technologies or simply exploring what may be possible, this open house will provide a practical look at how the Advanced Manufacturing Center can help manufacturers take the next step.

Need advice on more efficient operations, drop us a note at assistance@okalliance.com

03/09/2026

Oklahoma manufacturers: OMA is gathering input from companies across the state to identify where Artificial Intelligence could improve operations, production, and profitability.

Your feedback will help guide future OMA programs and pilot initiatives focused on practical AI solutions.

🔗 Take the survey: https://lnkd.in/gihWxvwF

03/05/2026

Where can Artificial Intelligence actually improve manufacturing operations? The Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance is asking industry leaders from across the state to weigh in.

We’re conducting a short 𝗔𝗜 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 & 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘆 to identify where practical AI tools could deliver the most value. From production scheduling and predictive maintenance to quoting, quality inspection, and forecasting.

The survey takes about 8 minutes, and the feedback will help guide future OMA programs and pilot initiatives.

🔗 Take the survey here: https://lnkd.in/gihWxvwF

If you operate a manufacturing facility in Oklahoma, we’d appreciate your input.

03/04/2026

More than 100 manufacturers from across eastern Oklahoma gathered this week in Broken Arrow for the latest OMA Automation Roadshow, presented by the Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance and hosted by McElroy.

The event brought together industry leaders, engineers, and operations teams to explore how technology, AI and automation are being applied on real shop floors across the state. Through practical presentations, peer discussions, and a expert panels, participants shared insights on topics ranging from predictive maintenance and supply chain tools to workforce strategies and automation integration. Everyone had the opportunity to tour the McElroy University facility, getting an inside look at the company’s operations and the technologies supporting its production.

OMA’s Technical Services Group also demonstrated an Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR), showing how these systems can safely move materials and components across a facility without fixed tracks or manual operation. Using onboard sensors and mapping technology, AMRs can navigate busy shop floors, transport parts between workstations, and help manufacturers improve efficiency while freeing up employees for higher-value tasks.

Events like the OMA Automation Roadshow help strengthen Oklahoma’s manufacturing network while giving companies practical ideas they can take back to their own operations.

𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲. 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐤𝐥𝐚𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐚.

02/24/2026

For Oklahoma manufacturers, strong quality systems are often the difference between sustaining growth and missing new opportunities. When 7D Manufacturing, located in the rural community of Boswell, looked to re-establish its quality management foundation, the company turned to the Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance and its Technical Services Group for guidance and expertise.

7D Manufacturing had previously operated under AS9100D certification, but after its certification lapsed, company leadership made the strategic decision to realign its Quality Management System (QMS) with the ISO 9001:2015 standard.

To support that transition, OMA Lead Auditor Wade Wilson, PE worked closely with the company to rebuild its quality framework from the ground up. OMA provided comprehensive Quality Management System documentation support, updating the company’s quality manual, procedures, work instructions, and forms to fully align with ISO 9001:2015 requirements. OMA also delivered internal auditor training for three employees and conducted a full internal audit alongside the 7D Manufacturing team, strengthening internal ownership of the system and reinforcing a culture of continuous improvement.

OMA congratulates 7D Manufacturing on achieving certification to ISO 9001:2015. The company is now positioned to realize the benefits of operating an ISO 9001-based Quality Management System, including reduced defects, rework, and scrap, along with improved production flow and on-time delivery. Additionally, leadership benefits from better visibility into performance through defined metrics and management review processes, enabling proactive decision-making and sustainable growth.

Projects like this demonstrate how OMA’s certifications and compliance services bring specialized expertise directly to manufacturers across Oklahoma, including rural communities where access to quality and compliance resources can be limited. By translating internationally recognized standards into practical processes, OMA helps manufacturers compete more effectively, qualify for new business opportunities, and build a stronger foundation for long-term success.

𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲. 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐤𝐥𝐚𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐚.

For more information, drop us a note at assistance@okalliance.com

02/12/2026

02/11/2026

The Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance recently celebrated the retirements of Vice President Kinnee Tilly and Director of Administration Kim Norrell, recognizing their years of impactful service to manufacturers across the state.

Tilly joined OMA six years ago and played a key role in advancing the organization’s strategic vision and strengthening relationships with partners statewide. With a background in economic development and business expansion, she brought deep experience and steady leadership to the Alliance.

Norrell served OMA for more than two decades and was central to its daily operations. As Director of Administration, she oversaw reporting, financial processes, human resources, vendor coordination, and the internal systems that keep the statewide organization running smoothly. Her attention to detail and institutional knowledge were foundational to OMA's success.

“Kinnee and Kim have each made lasting contributions to this organization and to the manufacturers we serve,” said President Dave Rowland. “We are grateful for their leadership, professionalism, and commitment to strengthening industry across Oklahoma. They will both be deeply missed.”

Their leadership helped strengthen manufacturers, communities, and industry across Oklahoma, leaving a legacy that will continue to shape the OMA's work in the years ahead.

02/05/2026

Another global manufacturing and technology company is putting down roots in Oklahoma. Mecad USA announced plans to establish its U.S. headquarters at the Tulsa Ports, a move expected to create nearly 300 jobs and strengthen northeast Oklahoma’s advanced manufacturing footprint. The new facility will support Mecad’s North American operations and serve as a hub for systems assembly, automation, testing, and high-precision manufacturing.

Mecad specializes in computer-aided design and manufacturing solutions, industrial automation, and advanced systems serving aerospace, energy, automotive, and industrial markets. Company leaders pointed to the Tulsa Port of Catoosa's multimodal access to rail, barge, and roadway connections, along with proximity to regional supply chains, as key advantages. Oklahoma’s recently enacted behind-the-meter energy law was also cited as a strategic factor, providing flexibility and long-term certainty for energy-intensive, technology-driven operations.

More here: https://lnkd.in/gqZAXSUz
And here: https://lnkd.in/gz9fPfqj

The project represents a $13.4 million investment and will occupy a 32,000-square-foot facility at the Port. It adds to a growing list of major manufacturing commitments across the state and reinforces Oklahoma’s position as a competitive location for next-generation manufacturing. As the Oklahoma Department of Commerce noted, companies continue to choose the Sooner State for its affordable energy, logistics advantages, and business-friendly policies that support innovation and growth.

02/04/2026

Manufacturing has an important voice at the Capitol. And March 26 is the day to use it.

OMA Manufacturing Day at the Capitol brings Oklahoma manufacturers together with state leaders for meaningful, face-to-face conversations about the policies, workforce needs, and investments shaping our industry’s future.

We're happy to welcome this year's presenting sponsor, Applied Industrial Machining and Applied Aerospace, whose leadership reflects the importance of manufacturers showing up and being heard.

Don't miss your opportunity to:
✅ Meet with legislators
✅ Hear directly from state leaders
✅ Build relationships that matter
✅ Help strengthen Oklahoma manufacturing

📌 Register now: https://lnkd.in/gsgzvsuj

Supporting Sponsors include:
➡️ The Alliance for Secure Energy
➡️ Blackwell Economic Development Authority
➡️ CMC (Commercial Metals Company)
➡️ Hitachi Vantara Manufacturing, Inc.
➡️ Oklahoma Business Roundtable
➡️ Oklahoma Finance Authorities

𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲. 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐤𝐥𝐚𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐚.

02/03/2026

The Anchor Glass Container LLC manufacturing facility in Henryetta has been part of Oklahoma’s manufacturing landscape for nearly 100 years and is home to one of the largest glass melting furnaces in the world. Anchor is a major North American glass container producer, making billions of bottles and jars each year for beverage, food and consumer product customers, and its Henryetta plant alone ships out millions of pieces.

Long-standing operations like Anchor’s reflect the deep roots of Oklahoma’s industrial economy, built on durable facilities, skilled workforces and products that serve markets across the world.

02/02/2026

A surge of federal funding and rising geopolitical urgency is pushing Oklahoma into the center of America’s effort to rebuild a domestic rare-earth manufacturing base, with USA Rare Earth and its Stillwater facility emerging as a key test case.

Backed by up to $1.6 billion in support through the CHIPS and Science Act and paired with $1.5 billion in private investment, USA Rare Earth is advancing a vertically integrated “mine-to-magnet” strategy aimed at restoring U.S. production of high-performance permanent magnets used in semiconductors, electric vehicles, aerospace systems, and defense technologies. The scale and stakes of that effort were detailed in reporting this weekend by Jeff Elkins for The Oklahoman and David J. Lynch for The Washington Post.

Both stories highlight the manufacturing intensity behind the strategy. Inside the 310,000-square-foot Stillwater plant, workers are assembling a highly specialized production line built around precise metallurgical processes, legacy equipment repurposed from overseas operations, and tight quality controls. The company plans a phased production ramp, beginning with hundreds of tons of neodymium magnets annually and scaling significantly later in the decade. Executives emphasize that the facility is designed to meet highly specific performance requirements demanded by U.S. manufacturers, while federal officials frame the project as a cornerstone of supply-chain security in a sector long dominated by China.

Read Elkins' story: https://lnkd.in/g5VWVwuU
Read Lynch's story: https://lnkd.in/ewQkiWxb

Together, the reporting underscores both the opportunity and the challenge of reshoring rare-earth manufacturing. Oklahoma’s role is strengthened by state and local incentives, reuse of legacy industrial space, and the state’s growing footprint in advanced manufacturing. At the same time, company leaders and analysts caution that rebuilding a fully domestic supply chain will take years, sustained federal engagement, and successful commercialization of upstream mining assets. Stillwater’s magnet facility, they suggest, represents not a quick fix but a foundational step in restoring long-term U.S. manufacturing capacity in a strategically vital industry.

NationalSecurity