Above: Two workers install the passenger window of the one millionth Ford Transit produced at Kansas City Assembly Plant. (Image courtesy of Ford Media Center)
Missouri boasts a robust and diverse industrial landscape, with aerospace, transportation, and food products leading the charge in driving economic growth. Known as the Show-Me State, Missouri is home to a dynamic manufacturing sector that continues to innovate and expand. In this article, we will explore latest manufacturing trends and highlight the top companies that are shaping these key industries.
Key Facts about Missouri’s Manufacturing Sector
According to MNI, compiler and publisher of the industrial data that powers IndustrySelect, there are currently 5,682 manufacturers in the state of Missouri that employ 342,276 workers.
St. Louis is Missouri’s largest city based on number of industrial jobs, with 68,448 workers.
Read more: Top Manufacturing Cities in the U.S.
Other top cities in Missouri include
- Kansas City (33,063 jobs)
- Springfield (19,994 jobs)
- St. Joseph (9,604 jobs)
- Claycomo (9,470 jobs)
St. Louis City County is Missouri’s largest in terms of industrial jobs, home to 92,732 workers. This is followed by Jackson County with 65,640 workers, St. Louis County (36,067 jobs), Greene County (22,148 jobs) and St. Charles County (20,432 jobs).
The food processing industry is Missouri’s largest in terms of employment, accounting for 15% of the state’s industrial workforce. This is followed by transportation equipment with 14% of Missouri’s factory workers. Fabricated metal products make up another 11%, while chemicals and allied products account for 8% of Missouri’s industrial workforce.
MNI reports there are 24,391 executive contacts among Missouri’s manufacturing companies, including 2,939 presidents, 2,465 owners and partners; 1,868 vice-presidents and 2,403 sales, marketing and purchasing executives.
Other facts to know about Missouri manufacturers, based on IndustrySelect’s advanced criteria available to subscribers, include ownership, distribution and other trends. Let’s take a look:
- 2% of Missouri manufacturers are women-owned
- 1% are minority-owned
- 9% are publicly owned companies
- 11% import raw materials
- 21% distribute their products internationally.
Experts believe manufacturing will grow by 3.84% between 2020 and 2030 in Missouri. While labor challenges remain an issue, Missouri has a strong outlook for the future thanks to low business costs, a central geographic location, and excellent performance in areas like on-the-job training.
Next, we’ll take a look at the state’s top companies.
Top 10 Manufacturing Companies in Missouri
| Company | Employees | City | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Boeing Co. | St. Louis | MO | 16,000 |
| Ford Motor Co., Kansas City Assembly | Claycomo | MO | 9,468 |
| Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies, LLC | Kansas City | MO | 7,000 |
| General Motors Co., Wentzville Truck Assembly Center | Wentzville | MO | 4,087 |
| Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc. | St. Louis | MO | 4,000 |
| Nortek Air Solutions | O'Fallon | MO | 3,000 |
| Triumph Foods, LLC | St. Joseph | MO | 2,500 |
| TG Missouri Corp. | Perryville | MO | 1,709 |
| Tyson Foods, Inc. | Sedalia | MO | 1,700 |
| Quaker Window Products, Inc. | Freeburg | MO | 1,500 |
Looking to make contact with industrial decision makers in Missouri? Reach 7,600+ companies and 18,000+ executives with the Missouri Manufacturers Database, only from MNI (see a sample profile).
About the Top 10 Manufacturing Companies in Missouri
1. The Boeing Co. (St. Louis)
With 16,000 employees, This Boeing location is an aerospace and defense leader and ranks as Missouri's top industrial employer. The St. Louis plant fulfills Air Force contracts and works on groundbreaking aircraft like the F/A-18 and F-15 fighters.
2. Ford Motor Co., Kansas City Assembly (Kansas City)
This 1,260-acre facility has been around since 1951. Its 7,000 employees are currently working on the Ford E-Transit, Ford Transit, and F-150 truck.
3. Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies, LLC (Kansas City)
This Honeywell branch manages the Kansas City National Security Campus, a facility where 3,000 researchers develop the latest technology in the field of nuclear energy.
4. General Motors Co., Wentzville Truck Assembly Center (Wentzville)
GM is a major employer in Wentzville, with a 4.25-million-square-foot facility and 4,600 jobs. This plant manufactures the Chevrolet Colorado, Chevrolet Express, GMC Canyon, and GMC Savana.
5. Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc. (St. Louis)
One of the largest brewers in the world, Anheuser-Busch reported a growth of 20% across its entire portfolio for 2021. The food and beverage manufacturer has 4,000 employees in St. Louis.
6. Nortek Air Solutions (O’Fallon)
This innovative HVAC manufacturer has 3,000 employees in its O’Fallon plant. Nortek offers solutions for heating and cooling as well as products designed to improve air quality and reduce energy consumption.
7. Triumph Foods, LLC (St. Joseph)
Launched in 2003, Triumph Foods has become one of the largest pork-processing facilities in the country. Its 2,500 employees process 6 million animals each year.
8. TG Missouri Corp. – Perryville, MO
TG Missouri, a subsidiary of Japan’s Toyoda Gosei, manufactures automotive components including steering wheels, airbags, interior and exterior trim, and weatherstrips. The Perryville facility supplies major automakers with safety and interior systems, contributing to the company’s role as a global leader in automotive parts production.
9. Tyson Foods, Inc. – Sedalia, MO
Tyson Foods’ Sedalia facility specializes in poultry processing, producing fresh and frozen chicken products for both retail and foodservice markets. The plant plays an important role in Tyson’s integrated protein supply chain, helping meet strong demand for chicken products across the country.
10. Quaker Window Products – Freeburg, MO
Founded in 1949 by Harold and Marge Knoll, Quaker Windows & Doors has grown from an 11-person venetian blind shop into one of the country's leading manufacturers of residential, luxury, and commercial window and door products. Its aluminum, vinyl, and wood window lines serve new construction and retrofit projects nationwide, including high-rise commercial buildings up to 40 stories.
Find Manufacturing Leads in Missouri
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Article Sources:
https://www.mni.net
https://meric.mo.gov/industry/long-term-projections
https://businessfacilities.com/2022/06/missouri-economic-development-showing-the-way/
https://extension.missouri.edu/programs/exceed-community-economic-and-entrepreneurial-development/missouri-economy-indicators