Leadership is the cornerstone of any thriving organization. At O’Neal Manufacturing Services, we are committed to fostering long-term employee engagement by empowering our team members to realize their full leadership potential. The EPIC Leadership Program was born out of this commitment—a robust, 15-month journey designed to invest, educate, and inspire key OMS employees by offering them the skills and opportunities needed to advance their careers and take on leadership roles within the company.

EPIC isn’t just another corporate training program; it’s a transformative experience. Designed to develop and retain top talent, it simultaneously empowers participants to shape and drive strategic corporate initiatives, making the training experience truly impactful.

Building Character

One of the most compelling aspects of EPIC is its emphasis on leadership as an experiential journey. Based on the principle that character is foundational to one’s ability to lead, EPIC cohorts are introduced to concepts like the “tactical pause”—a moment of deliberate reflection to avoid reactionary decisions—and the importance of being “fireproof” rather than simply firefighting. The program fosters clear, intentional communication, creating a culture where everyone understands their role and aligns with the broader mission.

The program instills the understanding that cultural change isn’t achieved through sudden shifts but through consistent, intentional actions that gradually steer the organization in the desired direction. By the end of the program, participants will have developed a personal leadership philosophy that aligns with both their individual aspirations and organizational goals.

Unlocking Business Insights

The program also includes specialized training in crucial areas such as financial acumen—covering EBITDA, return on capital, and cash flow management—and operational skills like forecasting, KPI projection, and regulatory compliance. Understanding financial metrics enables leaders to make informed decisions that drive profitability and sustainability, while operational expertise ensures that organizations can maintain efficiency and adhere to regulatory standards.

Additionally, the curriculum emphasizes the importance of human capital, incorporating sessions dedicated to talent sourcing, employee engagement strategies, and corporate branding. By fostering a comprehensive skill set bridging financial, operational, and people management strategies, the EPIC program creates value in many facets of our organization.

At its core, the EPIC Leadership Program is much more than training—it’s a transformative journey that empowers individuals to become the dynamic leaders of tomorrow within our company. As we embrace the values and practices instilled through the EPIC program, our emerging leaders will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of OMS.

Few business sectors can rival the impact of Alabama’s manufacturing industry. With impressive production and employment numbers, manufacturing plays a vital role in driving the state’s economy. To honor the leaders and companies that excel in this critical sector, the Birmingham Business Journal hosted the 2024 Manufacturing Awards banquet, shining a spotlight on the top manufacturers in the region.

Among the distinguished honorees, O’Neal Manufacturing Services (OMS) proudly received the Alabama Manufacturing Award in the Employee Development category. This recognition underscores OMS’s commitment to nurturing the talent within its workforce, ensuring that the company remains a leader in the industry for years to come.

At the heart of this achievement is OMS’s EPIC Leadership Development program. This comprehensive 15-month succession initiative is designed to identify and cultivate the next generation of leaders within the company. By focusing on employee growth and development, OMS not only strengthens its internal team but also fosters a culture of innovation that directly benefits its customers.

OMS’s philosophy is clear: investing in employees is an investment in the future. By empowering team members with the skills and mindset needed for leadership, the company is poised to continue its trajectory of excellence and innovation in the manufacturing sector.

Congratulations to O’Neal Manufacturing Services for this well-deserved honor! Your dedication to employee development sets a standard for the industry and highlights the importance of cultivating talent from within.

Bridge construction requires steel plate fabrication that meets the highest standards of strength and durability. From cutting and forming, to welding and painting, these fabrication processes ensure the large steel parts used in bridge construction meet the necessary specifications for safety, reliability, and longevity. O’Neal Manufacturing Services provides fully integrated, turnkey fabrication capabilities and maintains a reputation for excellence in the steel industry. We offer many capabilities that are commonly used in bridge construction:

1. Large Precision Forming: Large and heavy parts require precision bending and forming. With the largest TRUMPF press brake in the country, OMS tackles parts up to 23 feet long with incredible accuracy. With a usable open height of up to 34 inches, large throat depths, and a max press force of 1,100 tons, our hydraulic press brakes bring efficiency and redundancy to your supply chain.
2. Laser, Plasma, and Oxy Fuel Cutting: From simple shapes to complex parts, our vast cutting capabilities can’t be beat. Oxy fuel is the standard cutting process for most steel bridges and tackles heavy-gauge structural steel plates up to 12” thick. High-definition plasma cutting will process carbon steel, stainless steel, and aluminum up to 2” thick with increased speed and less distortion. Laser cutting is ideal for clean edges, difficult profiles, and notable perpendicularity.
3. Manual and Robotic Welding: Proper welding is crucial for creating strong, durable connections between different parts of the bridge. Our experienced teams can accommodate weldments weighing more than 40,000 lbs. Certified welders and welding inspectors ensure your steel, aluminum, or stainless steel fabricated parts are well-made, tested, and structurally sound.
4. Vertical Machining: Precision machining is used to create specific features on steel plates, such as holes, slots, and other complex shapes. OMS offers multi-angle machining and simultaneous 5-axis contouring essential for secure and long-lasting bridge structure components. This is especially important in bolted connections where precision is critical.
5. Blasting and Beveling: Our in-house metal finishing capabilities of blasting and beveling will smooth, shape, or roughen a surface or remove surface contaminants. Blast cleaning is a process that uses a mixture of steel particles that are “shot” at the steel to produce a surface profile that will allow the paint to adhere.
6. Powder Coating and Wet Painting: To protect steel plates from corrosion and environmental damage, OMS provides in-house painting and powder coating for any type of large or complex project. Ruggedness and durability are added with protective layers or weathering steel treatments.

The National Safety Council, America’s leading nonprofit safety advocate, dedicates the month of June to staying safe at work and beyond. This recognition brings extra attention to the safety issues faced in the workplace. O’Neal Manufacturing Services (OMS) took full advantage of the annual observance to outline a safety blitz concept for our industrial fabrication facilities.

Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Self-Assessment

Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) self-assessments are internal audits that help facilities identify risks and eliminate safety hazards to improve their compliance status. The assessment, or safety blitz, is limited in scope and conducted on a routine basis. This process can help facilities focus on areas with the greatest opportunity for improvement while not overwhelming the team.

Elements of the safety blitz program include:

• Develop a calendar of scheduled inspections
• Review and divide facility floor plans for inspection
• Identify a core inspection team
• Review previous safety action items
• Conduct facility walk-through, record findings, and capture photos
• Report findings, clarify needs, and discuss suggestions for improvement
• Implement improvements and track all findings to their conclusion

Safety in the manufacturing process is paramount to prevent or minimize the risk of worksite injuries. At O’Neal Manufacturing Services, the culture of safety among our team members is a key component of our business operations and success. Let’s Build Safety, not just in June, but every day of the year.

Each year, The Fabricator, North America’s leading magazine for the metal forming and fabricating industry, identifies the 40 most successful metal fabricating operations in the U.S. based on 2023 reported revenue.

O’Neal Manufacturing Services (OMS) has continued to secure a position near the top of this prestigious list. The most recent results, published in the June issue of the magazine, rank OMS at an impressive #4!

“We are proud to once again be recognized as a top fabricator on the FAB 40 list,” remarked OMS President and CEO, Kent Brown.  “We are the highest ranking “family-owned” fabricator on the list, which is fitting because it is our family of employees that make us the success we are, year after year.”

The Fabricator evaluates companies that earn the majority of their revenue from contract and custom manufacturing involving sheet metal, plate fabrication, or tube fabrication. See the full list on their website.

It will soon be opening night for The Virginia Samford Theatre’s production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in Birmingham, AL. It seems an unlikely setting to recognize O’Neal Manufacturing Services (OMS), but in this instance, steel fabrication was uniquely suited to the artistic nature of community theater.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, herself is an enchanted car that transports the Potts family on a magical journey to the imaginary country of Vulgaria. Through the creative efforts of the theatre’s technical director, Ben Boyer, and the steel fabrication team from O’Neal Manufacturing Services in Fayette, AL, actors in the musical production will not only sing and dance onstage, but they will also have the rare opportunity to operate a car that can drive, float, and fly.

The collaboration began with an initial request for financial support from Virginia Samford Theatre. It didn’t take long until a collective effort was formed to bring the show’s magical car to life. With a steel fabrication facility close by in Fayette, Alabama, OMS quickly responded to the theatre’s request not only for financial support but also through hands-on fabrication expertise.

OMS Fayette engineer, Rhett Northam, along with maintenance technicians, Marlon Norris and James Hunter, stepped up to design and build the steel frame for the vintage race car that will be featured in the play. They began by cutting, welding, and building the car frame out of steel tubes. Next, the team provided the electrical specifications and wiring installation required for the car to perform its supernatural functions, including actuators to lift the car up and down, extend the car’s wings, and lower the tires for her iconic ‘float mode.’ 

Overall, this project for Virginia Samford was a labor of love. “Our company is proud to not only be an industry-leading employer and manufacturer but also a leader in community involvement,” remarked Kent Brown, O’Neal Manufacturing Services President, and CEO. “Our slogan at O’Neal Manufacturing Services is “Let’s Build Things.”  In this case it was “Let’s Build Art and Entertainment!”

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Musical will run at the Virginia Samford Theatre in Birmingham, AL from June 13-30^th.  Learn more about VST here.

“We are excited to bring this whimsical and heartwarming story to life,” said VST Executive Director Philip Mann. “With its engaging characters, fantastic set designs, and unforgettable music, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is the perfect show for audiences of all ages.”

O’Neal Manufacturing Services (OMS), Pittsburgh is starting a new weekend shift to operate from 5:00 am – 5:30 pm Friday – Sunday plus 5:00 am – 1:30 pm every other Monday.

The newest shift was developed to meet increased production demand for OMS customers in power generation, industrial, and construction equipment.

Efforts to fill open positions on the weekend shift include a job fair that is scheduled for Friday, June 14^th from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm. Interested applicants are encouraged to attend the job fair at the OMS plant, located at 2975 Duss Avenue Suite 100 in Ambridge, PA.

Interviews will be held for multiple open positions at the facility including welding,  machine operation, material handling, maintenance, and production. 

OMS hopes to fill multiple open positions for the new weekend shift as well as open positions for its first shift which operates 5:00 am to 3:30 pm Monday – Thursday, and its second shift which operates 3:30 pm – 2:00 am Monday – Thursday.

Applications will also be accepted online, and open positions can be viewed before the event at https://bit.ly/OMSPittsburgh_Jobs.

OMS Indianapolis received special acknowledgment at the 23rd Annual Mayor’s Celebration of Diversity Awards. Over 50 local employers gathered on the morning of May 9^th to recognize organizations that support diverse individuals and continuing progress in the community. “Diversity in Workforce” was awarded to O’Neal Manufacturing Services for successfully implementing practices to support workforce diversity within their business.

“We are very proud to receive this award,” stated Federico Fraga, O’Neal Manufacturing Services Regional General Manager. “Having a diverse workforce allows us to share different ideas and experiences to become a better team.”

Organized by the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee and presented by Indianapolis Mayor, Joe Hogsett, the annual event celebrates local employers who have excelled in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Awards were developed with specific requirements, including the quality of services delivered by community-based organizations, the impact of youth apprenticeships, good wages and employee support, youth employment, diversity in leadership, and workplace culture.

“We are so lucky to have an organization, from the top down, who supports and encourages us in this realm and even more lucky to have incredible people who support the initiative,” remarked Dawn Pierce, OMS Indianapolis Customer Service Representative and DEI committee member.

O’Neal Manufacturing Services recognizes, respects, and supports the unique characteristics and experiences that have shaped the lives of our employees. The company strives to cultivate an inclusive environment where differences are positively embraced and everyone feels valued, considered, and accepted.

Congratulations to O’Neal Manufacturing Services’ Pittsburgh team on receiving the Supplier Innovation Award from GE Vernova. Recognized for its innovative partnership as a structural steel parts supplier, the Pittsburgh team was highly regarded for its fabrication expertise and equipment investments. 

“O’Neal Manufacturing Services has been a true partner to GE for steel structure parts,” commented Nicola McDonald, Lead Sourcing Specialist for GE. 

The company provided ongoing communication, on-site inspection, new machinery, and cross-team collaboration that allowed GE Vernova to maintain parts production quickly and efficiently. The Supplier Innovation Award was presented during the GE Supplier Summit on April 11, 2024. 

With a focus on electrification and decarbonization, GE Vernova credited O’Neal Manufacturing Services for supporting their continued growth. 

“OMS Pittsburgh is honored to have received this supplier award,” remarked Gus Cassida, Regional General Manager for OMS. ” GE Vernova manufactures incredible products that positively impact the lives of millions of people every day, and we are proud to be part of their process.” 

The Fabricators and Manufacturers Association (FMA) and CNA Insurance have announced the winners of the 2024 Safety Awards, which honor metal fabricators with outstanding achievements in safety in 2023. O’Neal Manufacturing Services is once again delighted to be recognized for our exemplary safety records and dedication to creating safe work environments.

“The culture of safety among our team members is a key component of our business operations and success,” commented Clark Wood, Director of Safety for OMS. Safety in the manufacturing process is paramount to prevent or minimize the risk of worksite injuries.

Wood added, “At O’Neal Manufacturing Services, we take this much further by immersing our safety procedures into our day-to-day decisions. I am extremely proud of our company’s commitment to safety excellence.”

Safety Award of Honor 

The 2024 Safety Award of Honor is presented to companies having perfect safety records—no recordable injuries or illnesses for calendar year 2023. The OMS facility receiving the 2024 Safety Award of Honor is:  

O’Neal Manufacturing Services – Houston, TX

Safety Award of Merit

The 2024 Safety Award of Merit is presented to companies posting an injury and illness incidence rate for calendar year 2023 that exceeds the published BLS rate by 10% or more, based on their NAICS code. OMS facilities receiving the 2024 Safety Award of Merit are:

O’Neal Manufacturing Services – Cedar Falls, IA

O’Neal Manufacturing Services – Greensboro, NC

O’Neal Manufacturing Services – Indianapolis, IN

O’Neal Manufacturing Services – Louisville, KY

O’Neal Manufacturing Services – Pittsburgh, PA

Awards will be presented at a recognition dinner on April 30 at the 16th Annual FMA Safety Conference in Elgin, Ill. Congratulations to our dedicated team members who have set a standard for safety excellence in our facilities. Read more on the FMA Blog.