Straight from the Source: All About Women-Owned Industrial Businesses in the U.S.

The word exclusive gets thrown around a lot these days. In our hectic digital age, everyone wants to be in-the-know, to uncover something no one else has. But the buzzword exclusive can sometimes just be that: a buzzword.

🏭With this inaugural issue of the MNI Industry Data Dive, we are excited to bring industry professionals into a truly exclusive fold—to share data-driven insights that go beyond surface-level trends and come straight from the source that matter to us all: U.S. industrial companies. 🙌

Exclusive, you might ask, how?

➡️In a nutshell: MNI collects detailed information firsthand, making direct contact with each industrial company in the U.S to verify multiple data points about their business. While this data is used to power a variety of industrial solutions, it also yields key insights and statistics as a natural outcome of our hand-verified collection process. ⬅️

Unlike sample-based surveys, which estimate trends from a subset of businesses, our data is census-based—built on direct information from every company in our database.

📊 In our weekly industry data dive, we’ll be featuring a new industry or segment each week, from machining to machinery, adhesives to aerospace, veteran-owned businesses to top industrial states. Whether you’re in industrial sales, marketing, business development, media, purchasing, procurement—or are just curious about the sector, you’ll get a front row seat to our industry updates.

This week, we’re excited to deliver some exclusive data we’ve collected on women-owned industrial businesses. Some of these trends are pretty surprising, revealing not only the scale of women-owned industrial businesses but also their strong role in international distribution, minority ownership, and key manufacturing industries.

Let’s dig in!

Women-Owned Industrial Businesses: Key Statistics

Here’s what we discovered about women-owned industrial businesses in the United States:

✅There are currently 6,262 women-owned industrial businesses in the U.S.

✅These companies employ 185,940 workers.

✅20% of women-owned industrial businesses are also minority-owned, compared to just 1% among manufacturers as a whole.

✅Women-owned industrial companies are major exporters, with one-third distributing their products internationally, exceeding the average among all manufacturers by 5 percentage points.

✅16% of women-owned industrial businesses import raw materials.

✅Women-owned industrial companies are overwhelmingly privately-owned, with just 31 companies (less than 1%) reporting public ownership.

✅Women-owned industrial companies as a whole report an average square footage of 43,799.

✅12% of women-owned industrial businesses are ISO-certified.

✅ A third of women-owned industrial companies are located in the Midwest, while 29% are in the South. The remainder are divided between the Mountain/Pacific region and East Coast (19% each).

Top Industries Among Women-Owned Manufacturers

Women-owned manufacturing businesses are making a serious impact in key industries. Based on data we’ve collected firsthand, these businesses are particularly strong in the following industries (measured by employee count):

1.      Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (27,000+ employees) Women-owned businesses contribute substantially to this sector, employing 27,722 individuals. Key areas of focus include sheet metal work, metal stamping, metal doors and frames, and fasteners (bolts, nuts, screws, washers).

2.      Industrial Machinery Manufacturing (22,000+ employees) This industry employs 22,192 individuals. Women-owned businesses excel in producing industrial machinery, special dies and fixtures, service industry machinery, and internal combustion engines.

3.      Food and Kindred Products (17,000+ employees) Employing 17,952 individuals, women-owned manufacturers play a key role in food processing, bakery products, frozen specialties, and beverage production.

4.      Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastic Products (12,000+ employees) Women-owned businesses in this sector employ 12,124 individuals, with strengths in plastic films, sheets, foam products, and fabricated rubber products.

5.      Electronic and Other Electrical Equipment (11,400+ employees) With 11,400 employees, women-owned manufacturers are active in electronic components, wiring devices, circuit boards, and switchboard apparatus.

6.      Chemicals and Allied Products (10,000+ employees) This sector employs 10,305 individuals, with strong representation in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, cleaning products, and chemical preparations.

Largest Women-Owned Industrial Businesses in the U.S.

Below are some of the largest women-owned industrial businesses in the United States based on square footage:

TST Inc. (Fontana, CA – 3,200,000 sq ft) TST, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of aluminum ingot, billet, and slab, serving industries such as aerospace, automotive, semiconductors, and building products.

W. L. Byrne, Inc. (Middleboro, MA – 3,100,000 sq ft) Also known as Byrne Sand & Gravel, W. L. Byrne, Inc. has been supplying high-quality sand, gravel, and ready-mix concrete for nearly 75 years. They specialize in providing materials for foundations and double-washed stone for septic systems, ensuring reliability in construction projects.

Sierra Pacific Industries (Eugene, OR – 3,000,000 sq ft) Sierra Pacific Industries is a third-generation, family-owned forest products company dedicated to sustainable forestry. The company operates advanced wood and window manufacturing facilities and employs nearly 6,000 workers across more than 30 states.

Arma Container Corp (Deer Park, NY – 2,900,000 sq ft) Established in 1946, ARMA Container Corp. is a key player in the packaging industry, specializing in high-quality corrugated boxes and custom packaging solutions for a wide range of applications.

StructureCast (Bakersfield, CA – 2,400,000 sq ft) StructureCast designs, manufactures, and installs custom architectural and structural precast concrete products. With over 30 years of experience, they provide innovative precast solutions for modern office buildings, warehouses, and bridge construction.

Largest Women-Owned Industrial Companies by Employee Count

1. Young Living Essential Oils (Lehi, UT--2,000 employees) Young Living’s "Seed to Seal" commitment ensures top-quality essential oils through careful monitoring from farm to distillery.

2. Quaker Windows & Doors (Freeburg, MO--1,500 employees) Blending old-world craftsmanship with modern technology, Quaker Windows' 1,500 craftspeople create high-quality windows and doors from wood, vinyl, and aluminum for both residential and commercial projects.

3. MNP Corporation (Utica, MI--1,200 employees) A major fastener manufacturer and certified Women’s Business Enterprise, MNP has supplied top-tier fasteners worldwide for 50 years and earned GM’s Supplier of the Year award in 2019.

4. Nephron Pharmaceuticals (West Columbia, SC--1,000 employees) A leading woman-owned manufacturer of generic respiratory medications and 503B outsourcing services, Nephron operates an 840,000 sq. ft. facility using advanced blow-fill-seal (BFS) technology to produce billions of doses annually.

5. Amy's Kitchen (Petaluma, CA--860 employees) Founded in 1987 by Rachel & Andy Berliner, Amy’s Kitchen grew from local pot pies to a national organic food leader, now employing thousands and generating $500M in revenue. Its Petaluma HQ houses 860 employees.

Summing Up

Women-owned manufacturers are not only shaping key industries but also driving innovation, workforce diversity, and economic growth. With significant contributions in metal fabrication, industrial machinery, food production, and more, these businesses are crucial to the U.S. manufacturing.

Stay tuned for next week’s issue as we spotlight another key industry in U.S. industrial sector—straight from the source.

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About This Data

Since 1912, MNI has been the industry’s leading source for quality data on the U.S. industrial sector, employing a team of 80 researchers who analyze hundreds of sources and directly contacts businesses multiple times a year to ensure data accuracy and completeness of each industrial business profile.

This data forms the informational engine behind IndustrySelect, which offers real-time access to detailed company and executive profiles for sales, marketing, recruiting, and research.

MNI data also powers IndustryNet, an industrial sourcing platform that connects buyers with industrial suppliers across thousands of product categories. Both platforms are designed to help professionals find accurate, up-to-date information for sales and business development, prospecting, and procurement.