Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance

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

01/20/2026

On March 26, Oklahoma manufacturers will step out of the plant and into the policy conversation for Manufacturing Day at the Capitol. It’s a chance to show lawmakers what manufacturing really looks like in 2026: The people, the investment, the innovation, and the impact happening in communities across our state. If you’ve ever said, “They need to understand what we deal with,” this is the day.

𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲. 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐤𝐥𝐚𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐚.

✅ Meet with legislators
✅ Hear directly from state leaders
✅ Build relationships that matter
✅ Help strengthen Oklahoma manufacturing

📌 Registration is open now: https://lnkd.in/gsgzvsuj

⭐ Sponsorships are also available for companies that want to show leadership and gain visibility alongside Oklahoma’s manufacturing community. More sponsor info here: https://lnkd.in/gR47V3Wz

Supporting Sponsors include:
➡️ The Alliance for Secure Energy
➡️ Blackwell Economic Development Authority
➡️ CMC (Commercial Metals Company)
➡️ Oklahoma Finance Authorities

01/14/2026

A major manufacturing investment is moving forward in northeast Oklahoma. CBC Global Ammunition has finalized the purchase of more than 500 acres at MidAmerica Industrial Park to support construction of a $300 million ammunition production facility, according Michael Dekker in the Tulsa World. Groundbreaking is expected this spring.

CBC evaluated more than 50 potential locations across the U.S. before selecting MidAmerica. Company leaders cited the park’s scale, electric capacity, and strong collaboration with state, local, and Cherokee Nation partners as decisive factors. The project will include four major factories and supporting facilities within the 9,000-acre park. It reinforcing Oklahoma as a hub for advanced manufacturing and national defense.

Read Dekker's full report here: https://lnkd.in/gXedn9NX

The new facilities will be capable of producing a full range of small-caliber and centerfire ammunition for military, law enforcement, and civilian markets. The investment is expected to create 350 direct manufacturing jobs, plus more than 600 additional indirect jobs across northeast Oklahoma.

For Oklahoma manufacturing, the announcement underscores how large-scale industrial infrastructure, workforce readiness, and long-term partnerships continue to attract global manufacturers.

𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲. 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐤𝐥𝐚𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐚.

01/07/2026

Oklahoma manufacturers don't have to navigate today’s challenges alone.

Across the state, Manufacturing Extension Agents with the Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance are working side by side with manufacturers to improve operations, adopt new technologies, strengthen supply chains, and build the workforce needed for long-term success. They are not just consultants. They are trusted partners who understand Oklahoma industry and deliver practical, customized solutions where it matters most.

𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲. 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐤𝐥𝐚𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐚.

If your operation is looking to grow, modernize, or work smarter, now is the time to connect with the Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance. Drop us a note to start a conversation with a Manufacturing Extension Agent and identify opportunities for your operation.

12/18/2025

John W. Griffin was elected chairman of the board for the Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance during the organization’s recent annual meeting. As president, CEO and owner of Griffin Holdings—the parent company of Griffin Food Company in Muskogee—he heads one of the state’s most recognized family-owned manufacturing businesses. He succeeds Maxwell Harris of HE&M Saw in Pryor and will carry forward OMA’s longstanding commitment to industry-focused leadership.

Under his direction, Griffin Foods has strengthened its place in the state’s manufacturing sector, producing familiar Oklahoma products and supporting a skilled regional workforce. His business interests also include House of Webster in Arkansas and Griffin Media. Beyond business, he is also active in statewide philanthropic and civic leadership, including past service as board chairman of the Salvation Army and roles with the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, St. Paul Methodist Church Council, United Way, and many others.

“I’m honored to serve as chairman and to support an organization that does so much to strengthen industry across our state,” Griffin says. “Manufacturing remains the backbone of Oklahoma communities. OMA provides practical expertise, hands-on assistance and a statewide network that helps companies grow, compete and create good jobs. I’m excited to help advance that mission.”

Also at the meeting, John Beaver of Nitro-Lift Technologies in Norman was elected to a three-year term on the board of directors. He replaces Jeff O'Neal with Advantage Controls in Muskogee, who served two terms.

Other current board members include: Geoff Hager of Big Elk Energy Systems, LLC in Tulsa; Sarah Fields of Jetta Corporation in Edmond; Matt Torres of RISE Armament in Broken Arrow; Michael Grant of McElroy Manufacturing, Inc. in Tulsa; Michael A. Rogers of Arrowhead Winch in Broken Arrow; Mike Payne of Hill Manufacturing & Fabrication in Broken Arrow; Michael D. Earl of Arvest Bank; Jeremy Ambrose of Public Service Company of Oklahoma; Brandon Rainbolt of Oklahoma Natural Gas; Christy Idleman, EDFP of OGE Energy Corp.; Michael Davis of Oklahoma Finance Authority; Brent Haken of Oklahoma CareerTech; and Jennifer McGrail of the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST).

The Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance is a nonprofit organization working in partnership with OCAST to strengthen the state’s industrial base. Through a statewide network of manufacturing experts, OMA delivers hands-on support, practical solutions, and technical insight that help existing companies compete, expand, and thrive. Strong manufacturing drives high-wage careers, sparks innovation, and supports growth across Oklahoma.

12/08/2025

The U.S. Small Business Administration is hosting a special session this week featuring Sullivan Staires, MBA, Economic Growth Strategist with the Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance, alongside Bettina Schreiner, Outreach and Marketing Specialist for the SBA District Office. The one-hour session will be Wednesday, Dec. 10, beginning at 10 a.m.

👉 Register at https://lnkd.in/enjabzbt

Sully has spent the past two and a half years at OMA shaping strategies that strengthen Oklahoma’s manufacturing industry. His focus bridges manufacturers with two vital communities: the Native Nations and the state’s startup ecosystem. With his commitment to innovation and economic development, Sully is helping ensure manufacturing remains a powerful driver of growth across Oklahoma.

He will highlight the support provided by the Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance, a statewide network of trusted experts dedicated to helping manufacturers succeed. From workforce initiatives to advanced technical services and supply chain solutions, OMA provides the support that keeps manufacturing strong and communities thriving.