Innovation News

Tulsa is home to a robust and growing advanced manufacturing ecosystem, one that drives and underpins nearly every major industry across the region, including aerospace, energy and advanced technologies. Home to global leaders such as AAON, NORDAM, Whirlpool and FlightSafety International, manufacturing remains a critical driver of economic vitality, jobs and innovation in Northeast Oklahoma.

As the industry evolves, so must the workforce that sustains it. In the next 10 years, one-quarter of the manufacturing labor force is expected to retire. Oklahoma is on target to experience a worker shortage of nearly 20,000 people by 2028. Combined with technological advances in autonomy, machining and robotics that are significantly shifting how things are made, training the next generation of the manufacturing workforce is critical to the regional and U.S. economy. 

Tulsa Innovation Labs (TIL) is partnering with organizations across the region to help bolster, support and prepare the manufacturing workforce of tomorrow while reshaping outdated perceptions of what a manufacturing career looks like today.

Modern manufacturing careers sit at the intersection of technology and innovation, with opportunities reaching far beyond the factory floor, encompassing high-skill, high-wage roles in robotics, CNC machining, 3D printing, dimensional measurement and advanced automated systems. These careers offer clear pathways for growth and long-term stability. 

Programs like the Registered Apprenticeship Program, through the Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance (OMA), are designed to develop a strong pipeline of talent that allows individuals to earn wages while they learn on the job, preparing them for careers in manufacturing. OMA works directly with regional employers to deliver registered apprenticeship programs tailored to the needs of industry. 

The impact to date is measurable and significant:

• 67 apprentices placed into manufacturing careers
• Average wage growth from $27,000 to $70,000
• Earnings that are 69% higher than the Oklahoma median salary

This work directly supports Tulsa Innovation Labs’ focus in workforce and talent, which strengthens employer-driven workforce development by aligning training programs with industry needs and integrating non-traditional education pathways and training providers. Without a strong manufacturing talent pipeline, the region risks leaving some of its most in-demand jobs unfilled, limiting economic growth and long-term prosperity.

The Tulsa Advanced Research and Manufacturing Acceleration Coalition (TARMAC) will provide technical and financial services, equipment, advanced training and resources for smaller regional manufacturers to expand into production lines for components of the UAS supply chain. This robust program includes a variety of projects and partners to achieve these functions:  

• OMA will identify gaps in local and national supply chain coverage and guide investment in component manufacturing. This will provide targeted opportunities, mobilize new or established manufacturing entrants, and minimize supply chain vulnerabilities.
• OMA and Tulsa Economic Development Corporation (TEDC) will provide technical and financial assistance to enter, pivot, or expand UAS-related manufacturing activities. This support eliminates compliance and contracting barriers that may otherwise prevent entry into defense markets. It will also include a bank-led lending consortium and the creation of a revolving equity fund to help small businesses qualify for capital to adapt product lines.
• The Demonstration Center, with anchor occupant Cherokee Nation Businesses, will house and centralize equipment for small, underrepresented, Tulsa-based manufacturers, helping them scale and develop UAS component manufacturing capabilities. It also includes a sales function, led by OK Autonomous, to attract OEMs and purchase orders for Tulsa manufacturers to expand business. 

This work bolsters the region’s existing manufacturing presence and creates an advantage for our local shops to enter the UAS market and win contracts that are propelling this industry forward. 

By investing in modern training models, business services, and industry partnerships, Tulsa is not only sustaining its manufacturing legacy, but redefining it by building an advanced manufacturing presence that’s equipped to lead the next generation of innovation.