"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - CNI Receives the OK Governor’s MLA

STILWELL, Oklahoma – Cherokee Nation Industries is among five Oklahoma manufacturers awarded the Governor’s Manufacturing Leadership Award during the annual Oklahoma Conference on Manufacturing.

“We are extremely honored to earn this recognition,” said Bryan Collins, chief executive officer of CNI. “This recognition means a lot to the company and our employees, who are working hard to develop, expand and improve the Cherokee Nation’s only manufacturing operation.”

CNI earned this recognition for successful implementation of lean manufacturing. Lean manufacturing is a process to develop improvements that eliminate waste and unnecessary movement within the manufacturing process. Relying on input from frontline employees, the company improved production efficiencies by 58 percent and reduced production line travel by 96 percent on a large, electrical wire harness program for military helicopters.

“Cherokee Nation Industries took one of its largest wire harnessing projects and totally dissected it,” said Connie Cunningham of the Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance. “It was amazing to see how they empowered their frontline employees and got the result they needed to improve efficiencies. The employees really seemed to have the answers and took the project to heart.”

“Creating a significant time savings on our manufacturing programs gives us the opportunity for more capacity, meaning more business,” said Collins. “These time-saving techniques are a direct result of frontline employees who are committed to growing our business.”

The Governor’s award is given to companies that are considered benchmark examples of progressive, forward-thinking Oklahoma manufacturers willing to adapt to become successful and represent the Oklahoma manufacturing industry.

Other recipients of this award include Cookshack, Ponca City; Expanded Solutions, Wewoka and Oklahoma City; VE Enterprises, Springer; and Pelco Products of Edmond. The awards were presented Tuesday during the 2008 Oklahoma Conference on Manufacturing, held by the Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance.

CNI and its affiliated companies are wholly owned by the Cherokee Nation. CNI was established in 1969 to serve as the economic and workforce arm of the Cherokee Nation. This tribal corporation specializes in aerospace and defense manufacturing, telecommunications, construction, distribution and personnel services. For more information on Cherokee Nation Industries, visit the CNI web site.