Recognition in the Fabrication Industry

Published each year in June, The Fabricator compiles a list of the most successful metal fabrication operations in the U.S. as part of its prestigious FAB 40. We are thrilled to announce that O’Neal Manufacturing Services has once again secured a top spot, ranking #4 on this esteemed list. This recognition highlights our unwavering commitment to precision fabrication and advanced manufacturing solutions for Original Equipment Manufacturers.

The FAB 40 List

The Fabricator is North America’s leading magazine for the metal forming and fabricating industry. The FAB 40 list is based on reported revenue from the previous year, and companies are ranked by earning the majority of their revenue from contract and custom manufacturing involving sheet metal, plate fabrication, or tube fabrication. Our consistent presence on this list, in a high-ranking position, underscores our dedication to excellence in the fabrication industry.

A Proud Member of FMA

O’Neal Manufacturing Services is a proud member of the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association International (FMA). The FMA is dedicated to advancing the interests of manufacturers and fabricators in the metalworking industry. With a mission to provide networking opportunities, education, and resources, FMA supports its members by promoting innovation and sustainability in manufacturing practices. O’Neal Manufacturing Services values its affiliation with FMA and its commitment to quality, excellence, and collaboration within the industry.

Celebrating Our Achievement

Let’s Celebrate! We are happy to share this news with our customers, partners, and dedicated team. Ranking #4 on The Fabricator’s FAB 40 list for 2025 is a testament to our hard work and the trust our clients place in us.

Here’s to building something great together! #OMS #Fab40 #ManufacturingExcellence #OEMSolutions

As a testament to excellence and teamwork, O’Neal Manufacturing Services’ Louisville & Indianapolis branches were pleased to obtain certification as a preferred supplier for Toyota Material Handling (TMH) for the second consecutive year.

To earn this certification, OMS consistently ranked over 90% in several key areas:

• Ensuring the safety of our teams and maintaining environmental standards.
• Guaranteeing that our products meet the highest measures of quality.
• Offering competitive pricing without compromising on performance.
• Consistently meeting on-time delivery expectations as scheduled.

Federico Fraga, Regional General Manager, praised the Louisville and Indianapolis teams for their outstanding quality and delivery performance.  “Toyota Material Handling has a world-class manufacturing philosophy. Meeting their high expectations is no small feat, yet we have consistently risen to the challenge.” Fraga Added, “The ability to function seamlessly as a cohesive unit, from procurement to shipping, is the cornerstone of our success.”

Only 20 key suppliers for Toyota Material Handling achieved the Preferred Supplier status. Two of the 20 suppliers were OMS – Louisville and OMS – Indianapolis.

We extend our congratulations on reaching this significant milestone. The strategic positioning and redundant processing capabilities of OMS facilities in the Midwest offer substantial opportunities for our teams to continue facilitating the long-term growth objectives of our customers.

We are thrilled to share a newly released episode of The Fabricator Podcast featuring O’Neal Manufacturing Services’ President and CEO, Kent Brown.

Listen Now!

In this engaging conversation conducted by Dan Davis, Editor in Chief, and Tim Heston, Senior Editor of The Fabricator, Kent Brown shares the company’s current success within the metal fabrication and manufacturing industry. He discusses the growth of O’Neal Manufacturing Services, considering the long-standing customer relationships that anchor the organization and the new opportunities that propel the company forward.

We invite you to view the complete episode through the link below.

Empowering a workforce with Kent Brown of O’Neal Manufacturing

The Podcast mentions the newest OMS facilities in Kingsport, TN, Cincinnati, OH, and Fayette, AL. Mr. Brown shares insights on the following subjects:

• Growth and Expansion: Since 2018, O’Neal Manufacturing Services has expanded from seven to ten locations, investing heavily in new equipment such as fiber lasers and robotic press brakes to remain competitive. The company’s newest location in Kingsport, TN, will open in June.

• Empowering Local Leadership: OMS offers its general managers and assistant general managers the autonomy to make decisions tailored to their customers’ needs, including machinery and personnel investments. This fosters collaboration among other OMS facilities to find the best fit for their customers and improves the operational efficiency of its plants.

• Focus on Innovation: The company invests in new manufacturing solutions, staying ahead of industry trends and meeting evolving customer demands. Through its relationship with parent company, O’Neal Industries, OMS has the capital and resources from a corporate level to remain successful.

The Fabricator podcast is a production of the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association located in Elgin, Illinois. To listen to more, visit The FMA Podcast Network.

On May 1st, we celebrated Better Basics Reading Day at Hayes K-8 school in Birmingham, AL. This annual event brought together representatives from O’Neal Industries, O’Neal Steel, and O’Neal Manufacturing Services to read books and engage with young learners.

Better Basics is dedicated to improving literacy rates and providing educational enrichment for children in Central Alabama. On Reading Day, volunteers from the Birmingham community, including local businesses, come together to share new books and read aloud to students in pre-k through the fifth grade.

Better Basics Reading Day continues to be a favorite event for our teams. By engaging directly with students, our companies foster valuable learning experiences and demonstrate the positive impact that investment in education can have on our community’s future.

The introduction of tariffs on imported foreign steel poses significant cost implications for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) within the United States. These tariffs were enacted in response to the increasing volume of steel imports, which account for approximately 30% of the country’s steel consumption. As a result, OEMs that depend on imported steel are facing higher costs. This not only affects their bottom line but also introduces potential supply chain disruptions, making it a challenging time for businesses striving to maintain profitability.

With the current tariffs in place, partnering with a U.S.-based metal fabricator can lead to considerable cost savings for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) by producing parts here at home. Domestic producers can bypass the tariffs and import duties that apply to foreign steel, leading to lower raw material costs. Additionally, these fabricators offer competitive pricing due to reduced shipping expenses, faster turnaround times, and the ability to utilize local resources and expertise.

Domestic Supply Chain Benefits

Partnering with a local fabricator can enhance supply chain management and inventory efficiency. O’Neal Manufacturing Services operates a network of highly integrated manufacturing facilities across the U.S. and uses strategies to control material costs and optimize purchases from domestic steel mills. Supporting large original equipment manufacturers across the country, this collaboration allows OEMs to maintain reliable inventory, ensure that production remains uninterrupted, and reduce manufacturing costs throughout the product lifecycle.

Trusted Industry Reputation

Established in 1921, O’Neal Manufacturing Services (OMS) is one of the country’s leading metal fabrication firms, supporting industries such as Agricultural Equipment, Material Handling, Construction Equipment, and Renewable Energy. With 9 facilities across the U.S., OMS has extensive capabilities and helps major manufacturers boost production capacity and expedite launch-to-market schedules. Its customers represent some of the largest equipment manufacturers in the world, who trust them to maintain the most effective solutions for their long-term projects.

O’Neal Manufacturing Services’ ISO 9001:2015-certified facilities provide multistage processing and repetitive parts production. Each facility offers a wide range of capabilities, including cutting/burning, welding, machining, forming, and finishing, and offers significant capacity and manufacturing redundancy. With over 100 years in business and locations throughout North America, OMS has the skill, expertise, and state-of-the-art equipment to produce quality steel and metal parts for our nation’s largest equipment suppliers.

Partnership Opportunities with OMS

The current tariffs on foreign steel imports present an opportunity for OEMs to consider the benefits of partnering with a U.S.-based metal fabricator. From cost efficiency to improved supply chain management, and the ability to produce multi-step metal fabrications and welded assemblies, O’Neal Manufacturing Services can help industrial equipment manufacturers navigate these challenges and emerge stronger and more competitive.

O’Neal Manufacturing Services provides high-quality metal components for the railroad industry. Our extensive supply of special steel profiles and comprehensive lineup of steel fabrication, welding, and assembly make OMS the best solution in this demanding industrial sector.

OMS is Certified AAR M-1003

Approved by the American Association of Railroads, O’Neal Manufacturing Services is your trusted supplier of heavy steel structures and frames required for rail cars and tanks, locomotives, track construction, and rail crossings.

CNC Angle Line

Improve your structural steel fabrication efficiency with precision-cut segments of angle and bar stock. Clips, angles, gusset plates, and braces are punched and sheared at a rapid speed with no manual drilling.

Special Profiles

OMS offers custom-made special profiles used in train and tram doors, track construction, and rail components. We fabricate cross sections and special dimensions with the geometry and composition to precisely match your specifications.

O’Neal Manufacturing Services offers significant capacity and manufacturing redundancy. We solve your unique design-to-build production challenges and create the most effective solution for your project. By providing structural steel fabrication, automated processing capabilities, and special steel profiles, OMS brings valuable fabrication efficiencies to our customers. Let’s Build Things!

OMS President and CEO Kent Brown led an interactive discussion on Workplace Safety during the Fabrication and Manufacturing Association’s (FMA) Annual Meeting held last week in Chandler, AZ.

Maintaining Safety on The Shop Floor

During the session, Mr. Brown presented key components of O’Neal Manufacturing Services (OMS) safety standards. He highlighted specific aspects of the program that have proven successful and the challenges the company has faced and overcome in a productive metal fabrication environment. Joined by Chris Shell from Nova Group and Sterling Jenson of Richards Sheet Metal Works, the presentation engaged metals industry professionals as they discussed effective measures to develop a strong safety culture, the importance of safety being championed by the top leaders in the organization, near miss reporting, the use of audits to verify compliance, and other standards designed to support operational efficiency while prioritizing safety for everyone.

FMA serves metal fabrication and manufacturing professionals by advocating for the growth and sustainability of the North American metal processing, forming, and fabricating industries. The organization’s annual leadership conference provides opportunities for industry professionals to share insights on economics, emerging markets, cutting-edge manufacturing technologies, and more while making valuable connections and exchanging ideas that drive success.

Top industrial fabricators are well aware of the quality standards demanded by their OEM clients. To achieve precise part accuracy during the manufacturing process, O’Neal Manufacturing Services has adopted advanced metrology technology to meet our customers’ quality standards and streamline our part inspection process.

Quality inspections involve both visual and dimensional assessments. While simple tools such as micrometers and calipers provide basic measurements, more sophisticated technology involves laser trackers and coordinate measurement devices to ensure part accuracy throughout the fabrication process.

O’Neal Manufacturing Services Enlists CMM Devices for Dimensional Inspection and Quality Control.

O’Neal Manufacturing Services takes quality to the next level with the implementation of the Keyence wide-area CMM. This easy-to-use system enlists a wireless, handheld probe and triple-camera tracking for the most accurate measurement over a large area. Gone is the requirement to move the part itself. The portability of our Keyence CMM makes it possible to perform 3D measurements in almost any location. The handheld tool provides the operator freedom to move around the part without restrictions. With the touch of a probe, measurements are taken from any angle.

Keyence CMM Applications

• Material cutting measurement
• In-process inspection
• Post-weld strain measurement
• Measurement after additional processing
• Post-assembly positioning
• Final inspection
• Reverse engineering

 

The evolution of 3D measurement instruments has made it possible to evaluate parts of all shapes and sizes more easily. Coordinate measuring machines are capable of detecting deviations throughout the fabrication process, ensuring uniform and precise dimensions for large and intricate parts.

Implementing coordinate measuring machines, such as the Keyence CMM, enables O’Neal Manufacturing Services (OMS) to achieve unparalleled part accuracy. Our 3D measurements can be taken from any location and angle, allowing for comprehensive assessments. With our reputation as an innovative leader in the metal fabrication industry and our commitment to delivering superior quality parts that surpass those of our competitors, O’Neal Manufacturing Services will continue to provide expert solutions for our customers.

 

We are thrilled to announce that O’Neal Manufacturing Services’ (OMS) Fayette, Alabama facility has been awarded Location of the Year! This incredible achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team. OMS President, Kent Brown, and ONI Chairman and CEO, Craft O’Neal, were on hand to congratulate the team and present a trophy.

“The Fayette team has done an incredible job of turning what was a bankrupt company when we acquired it a few years ago, into an example of operational excellence,” remarked Kent Brown. “They have also retained and grown the number of good paying jobs with great benefits in Fayette, Alabama.  We are very proud of their accomplishments.”

Accepting the award were Ed Arceneaux, OMS Regional General Manager, and Joe Becker, Assistant General Manager, who shared their gratitude for all that was achieved in 2024.

Ed Arceneaux shared his admiration by saying, “The Fayette team has done a great job focusing on production and cost controls to make the location successful. It has really been amazing to see what they were able to accomplish with teamwork and dedication.”

O’Neal Manufacturing Services provides custom kitting and component assembly for original equipment manufacturers.

Kitting involves bundling parts to complete a particular component. O’Neal Manufacturing Services (OMS) offers custom kitting services for large quantities of parts to support original equipment manufacturers. These kitting programs aim to save time and expenses while addressing logistic challenges in the process flow. Our experienced team collaborates closely with clients to understand their requirements and develop a kitting plan that optimizes the supply chain, reduces lead times, and minimizes costs.

In addition to custom kitting, OMS offers comprehensive turnkey manufacturing capabilities. Our experienced staff will develop a detailed plan to oversee both the production and supply of kitted components from start to finish.

Staging, Special Labeling, and Packaging

Our custom approach begins with staging dedicated pre-assembly areas. Each part is carefully deposited in a labeled container and packaged according to your specific assembly requirements. Experienced personnel manage the storage, identification, and protection of these parts to ensure easy access and proper labeling, minimizing errors and delays.

Inventory Management & Quality Assurance

Effective inventory management minimizes errors and ensures timely deliveries. Our process organizes and packages each part per your schedule. We use Value-Analysis/Value-Engineering (VA/VE) to validate manufacturing before production, saving time and reducing costs. From staging to shipment, our quality checks ensure components arrive as needed, on time.

Assembly, Welding, and Joining Services

At OMS, we provide comprehensive in-house welding, joining, and sub-assembly services for clients requiring more robust solutions. Depending on customer needs, our capabilities allow us to deliver partially or fully assembled components, ready for final integration. Whether your project involves a straightforward sub-assembly or a complex welded structure, our skilled welders utilize a range of techniques to create robust and lasting joints tailored to your specific requirements.

Our ISO 9001:2015 certified facilities provide extensive capacity and manufacturing redundancies, enabling us to offer vertically integrated turnkey manufacturing processes, including significant in-house 2nd and 3rd step processing capabilities. This integrated approach ensures complete assembly solutions, minimizing the need for additional outsourcing.

Strategic Manufacturing Capabilities

OMS has strategically located fabrication plants in Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina, Texas, and Mexico. These locations were chosen to ensure manufacturing redundancies and consistent production solutions. Manufacturing professionals provide integrated project management, new product development, engineering collaboration, Kanban management, and more. Regardless of your company’s location, OMS offers machinery and expertise for comprehensive manufacturing solutions.

Comprehensive Kitting and Assembly Services

O’Neal Manufacturing Services is your go-to partner for custom kitting and component assembly services. Our comprehensive approach, advanced equipment, and dedicated teams enable us to meet the unique demands of supply chain managers and OEMs. With a focus on quality, efficiency, and customer satisfaction, OMS stands out as a leader in the industry, providing reliable and innovative solutions for your manufacturing needs.