The list is affirmation of something the Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance already knows: Tulsa-area companies are leading the way in the development of advanced manufacturing careers, alliance president Chuck Prucha said.

“It is not an accident,” Prucha said. “It has been a coordinated effort over a number of years by many organizations like the Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance, Tulsa Tech, Tulsa Community College, the Tulsa Chamber and private firms.”

It’s important to remember that even though large manufacturers often grab headlines when they are expanding or closing, the vast majority of production is done by small and medium-sized companies, Prucha continued.

“These manufacturers are flexible and better able to evolve in a high-tech world,” he said. “That’s a real advantage when adapting a workforce to fill skilled manufacturing positions.”

According to Tulsa Regional Chamber President and CEO Mike Neal, one in nine Tulsa workers is employed by a manufacturer.