The challenge

Omaha Steel, a 112-year old company, is an established name in the steel castings industry. In 2014, new owners took possession of assets, including a state-of the-art production facility. Omaha Steel was operating at 40 percent of capacity, which is reflective of the U.S. steel industry in general. A new management team was created to improve operational performance and to increase sales. This Nebraska company sought the assistance of the Mid-America Trade Adjustment Assistance Center (TAAC) in 2016.

The solution

The firm was awarded $75,000 in Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms (TAAF) funding which they matched to total $150,000 to implement the following strategic projects:

• Website development and creation of a new logo
• Condensable air emission assessment, testing and training
• Sales and management team development
• Account software and process assessment
• Engineering support services

Results since program entry

• Sales increased from $9.5 million to $14 million.
• Employment increased from 97 to 140.
• Rebranding to ensure Omaha Steel remained competitive.
• Improved skill set and industry best practices.
• Improved machine capacity and run times.
• Improved accounting procedures and report generation.