Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance

10/22/2026

U.S. Senator James Lankford met with area manufacturers this week for a roundtable discussion coordinated by the Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance and hosted by Milo's Tea Company Drink Milo's at its production facility near Owasso.

The discussion gave manufacturing leaders an opportunity to share firsthand perspectives on issues affecting their operations and long-term competitiveness, including workforce challenges, supply chains, trade policy and investment in new technologies. The exchange helped connect federal policy discussions with the practical concerns of Oklahoma manufacturers.

Milo's Tea provided a fitting setting for the discussion. The family-owned beverage manufacturer opened its Tulsa-area facility in 2020 as its first production operation outside Alabama and has since expanded its manufacturing capacity to meet growing national demand. The facility has also earned TRUE Platinum Zero Waste certification for its innovative recycling, composting and waste-reduction practices.

OMA coordinates these roundtables to provide manufacturers with direct access to federal policymakers and strengthen their understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing Oklahoma industry.

𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲. 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐤𝐥𝐚𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐚.

10/22/2026

Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance President Chris Benge and Vice President of Workforce Development Dr. Sharon Harrison addressed the Oklahoma House Business Committee this week during an interim study on "Oklahoma's Innovation Economy."

Benge discussed OMA's work helping small and medium-sized manufacturers adopt technologies that improve productivity, quality and competitiveness. Through engineering assistance, technology assessments and hands-on demonstrations, OMA helps companies identify practical applications for robotics, automation and advanced production systems. He also shared examples of Oklahoma manufacturers, like Wall Colmonoy in Oklahoma City and EMCO Industries in Claremore, successfully using these technologies to modernize operations and strengthen their competitive position.

Harrison highlighted the Manufacturing Skills Academy - MSA in Oklahoma City, an innovative workforce initiative she manages. Developed through a partnership between the Central Oklahoma Manufacturers Association and Harrison Consulting Group, the Academy uses a paid, earn-and-learn model that combines technical instruction with real-world manufacturing experience. Participants develop skills in areas such as CNC machining, robotics and workplace readiness while producing components for actual customers.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀: Oklahoma's innovation economy depends on more than developing new technologies. It also requires helping established manufacturers put those innovations to work and preparing employees with the skills to support them. Together, these efforts strengthen existing businesses, expand career opportunities and support long-term economic growth.

𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲. 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐤𝐥𝐚𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐚.

10/21/2026

10/19/2026

OMA joined gubernatorial nominee Mike Mazzei this week for a tour of Process Manufacturing in Tulsa, getting a firsthand look at the company's extensive production capabilities and the skilled workforce behind its operations.

Led by President Chris Schutte, Process Manufacturing has grown from a small machine shop founded in 1975 into a major industrial equipment producer. Its 250,000-square-foot facility provides fabrication, machining, welding, painting and assembly services for customers in the energy sector and other industrial markets.

OMA has a long working relationship with the company and welcomed the opportunity to participate in discussions about Oklahoma manufacturing, the challenges facing producers and opportunities for continued industry growth.

Visits like this provide an important perspective on the companies, people and technologies that contribute to Oklahoma's economy.

𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲. 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐤𝐥𝐚𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐚.

h/t Chris Benge

09/28/2026

Oklahoma City is set to add significant new aerospace and defense production capacity near Tinker Air Force Base.

KIHOMAC plans to invest $25 million in a roughly 130,000-square-foot facility, more than 10 times the size of its current Oklahoma City operation. The expansion is expected to create more than 100 jobs, with groundbreaking targeted for 2027 and an opening planned for 2028.

The new facility will increase KIHOMAC’s capabilities in metalwork, composites and CNC machining while adding an in-house circuit-board production line. The company currently outsources that work and says bringing it under its own roof will provide greater control over production schedules and help address supply-chain constraints.

Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gXDYeZy5

KIHOMAC supports military aircraft and other defense systems through engineering, fabrication, sustainment and lifecycle services. Expanding those capabilities close to Tinker adds another layer of advanced manufacturing capacity to Oklahoma City’s growing aerospace and defense industrial base.

𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲. 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐤𝐥𝐚𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐚.

h/t Oklahoma Department of Commerce, Oklahoma ACES, Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics

09/25/2026

National Manufacturing Day is Friday, Oct. 2, but the celebration extends well beyond a single day in Oklahoma. Throughout October, manufacturers, schools, workforce partners, economic development organizations and others across the state will host tours, student activities, career programs and community events highlighting today’s industry.

The idea behind MFG Day is straightforward: open doors, show people what modern production really looks like and introduce students and families to the technology, skills and career opportunities found on today’s factory floor. That message carries particular weight in Oklahoma, where 140,000 people work in manufacturing.

Manufacturing Month offers a chance to highlight the scale and diversity of the state’s industrial economy, from aerospace and energy to food production, machinery and advanced materials. It also puts greater attention on the skilled careers, new technologies and companies operating in communities throughout the state.

Learn more about Manufacturing Day, find resources and explore ways to participate at: www.MFGDay.com or drop us a note at [email protected].

09/23/2026

A new designation is putting Stroud-based Mint Turbines in an expanded role in the global aerospace market.

Pratt & Whitney Canada has named Mint Turbines a "Designated Overhaul Facility" for its PT6A and PT6T engine families. The designation authorizes Mint to perform OEM-approved maintenance, repair and overhaul work on engines used in business and agricultural aircraft, utility helicopters, air ambulances and other aviation applications.

Company leaders and guests gathered in Stroud this week to mark the milestone. Founded in 1981, Mint operates a 93,000-square-foot facility in Stroud and serves customers in more than 40 countries. The company also holds OEM authorizations covering GE Aerospace T700 and Ozark Aeroworks T53 engine platforms.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀: The new authorization positions Mint Turbines to compete for additional engine work while giving PT6 operators another OEM-approved overhaul option. It also puts more advanced aerospace capability in rural Oklahoma, connecting highly specialized work performed in Stroud with commercial, government and defense aviation around the world.

Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eUAmifNa

That is another strong example of the technical expertise and industrial capability Oklahoma companies bring to the global aerospace sector.

𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲. 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐤𝐥𝐚𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐚.

09/22/2026

A recent story by OSU’s Jessica Busby offers a good look at the hands-on engineering work taking place through the Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance’s Technical Services team.

Through OMA’s partnership with Oklahoma State University, applications engineers Austin Pickering and Ben Alexander worked with Biospec, a Bartlesville manufacturer of laboratory equipment, to redesign the company’s Mini-BeadBeater-16 ULTRA. The nearly 20-year-old product needed more than a simple update. BioSpec was looking for a new supplier, fewer components, easier operation and a substantial reduction in noise.

Pickering concentrated on the mechanical redesign, reducing the part count and improving how the equipment operates. He redesigned the retaining screw and cap and added a torque key to provide consistent torque during testing. Alexander focused on reducing noise from the machine, working through a series of tests and revisions with Pickering. Their work ultimately cut noise emissions by 25%, allowing researchers to hold a conversation next to the equipment while it operates.

Read Busby's full story here: https://lnkd.in/gpWZRYb2

The redesigned product launched earlier this year, with BioSpec reporting positive feedback on its appearance and ease of use. An OSU researcher who uses the equipment also cited improved lab efficiency, easier access to sample tubes and the ability to continue working nearby while the machine runs.

Pickering and Alexander are part of OMA’s Technical Services team, which combines applications engineering, automation, process improvement and other specialized expertise to help Oklahoma manufacturers solve practical production challenges and adopt new technology.

Learn more about OMA's Technical Services Team here: https://lnkd.in/gxTWpsYQ

Busby’s story illustrates how OMA connects manufacturers with specialized resources they may not have in-house. That approach has supported applications engineering projects across Oklahoma for nearly three decades.

𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲. 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐤𝐥𝐚𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐚.

09/21/2026

OMA recently brought together staff from across Oklahoma’s U.S. congressional delegation for a briefing on manufacturing conditions and priorities in the state. The discussion highlighted the sector’s economic strength, along with current pressures involving workforce availability, trade policy, supply chains and rapidly changing technology.

The visit also included a tour of Georg Fischer Central Plastics in Shawnee, giving congressional staff a firsthand look at Oklahoma production. The company manufactures metal and polyethylene pipe-joining products for natural gas, water and energy systems, illustrating the skilled work and technical capabilities found across the industry.

𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲. 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐤𝐥𝐚𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐚.

h/t Oklahoma Defense Industry Association

09/17/2026

OMA President Chris Benge and Vice President of Workforce Development Sharon Harrison joined industry and community leaders this week at the Cherokee Nation Career Services Apprenticeship Forum in Tahlequah. The event brought together employers, educators, and other stakeholders to discuss apprenticeship programs and opportunities.

Benge outlined OMA’s role in supporting Oklahoma manufacturers and discussed how apprenticeship can fit into a company’s broader workforce strategy. Harrison shared best practices for Registered Apprenticeship Programs and practical ways employers can build structured, work-based training around the skills their operations require.

The forum also included representatives from the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship and Employment and Training Administration. Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. welcomed participants as part of a full day of discussions covering manufacturing, construction, health care and other workforce pathways.

OMA’s Registered Apprenticeship work is supported by Tulsa Innovation Labs through the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Build Back Better Regional Challenge. That initiative has helped OMA expand apprenticeship programming tied to advanced manufacturing and other high-demand occupations in the Tulsa region.

Oklahoma manufacturers interested in using Registered Apprenticeship as part of their workforce plan can contact Harrison and and her team at [email protected]

𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲. 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐤𝐥𝐚𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐚.