EMA
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1975
- HeadquartersSaint Paul, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
EMA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- EMA
- Legal name
- EMA Group, Inc.
- Website
- https://ema-inc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1975
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
EMA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Water Utility Consulting Services
- NAICS
- Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Water Supply (4941), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- SCADA, Instrumentation & Controls Integration for Water/Wastewater Projects (IMAFAGAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Desalination Plant EPC, O&M & Performance Optimization (EUANAFAK), Environmental Monitoring Program (EMP) Risk-Based Design (AFALAOAN), Environmental Data Management Platforms (EHS/EMS, LIMS, ELN, Compliance Data Hubs) (EUAHAKAA), EMS Integration (ISO 9001/45001/50001) & Integrated Management Systems (EUAHAIAC)
Keywords
Where EMA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Saint Paul
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
EMA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Consulting and Advisory Services: EMA generates revenue through project-based consulting engagements with water and wastewater utilities. Services are delivered through collaborative, long-term client relationships where EMA acts as a trusted advisor. Engagements are structured around the OPT framework and typically address complex, organization-wide challenges requiring expertise across operations, technology, strategy, customer service, workforce, and asset management.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
EMA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
EMA provides project-based consulting and advisory services to municipal and investor-owned water and wastewater utilities, applying its proprietary OPT (Organization, Practices, and Technology) framework to deliver holistic transformation across operations, technology, strategy, customer service, workforce, and asset management. Service offerings span SCADA master planning, cybersecurity assessments, enterprise asset management implementation, customer information systems, advanced metering infrastructure, and AI/chatbot integration.
Product overview
EMA, Inc. is a utility consulting and technology services firm that offers a comprehensive portfolio of professional services to water and wastewater utilities across the United States and Canada. The company operates as a 100% employee-owned business founded in 1975, headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota. Rather than a single software product, EMA delivers an integrated suite of consulting and implementation services organized around their proprietary OPT (Organization, Practices, Technology) methodology. The service portfolio spans six core categories: Operations Consulting, Technology Services, Strategy Services, Customer Services, Workforce Services, and Asset Management Services. These services address the full spectrum of utility needs including SCADA systems, cybersecurity, data analytics, customer information systems, enterprise asset management, and advanced metering infrastructure. EMA also incorporates AI capabilities including Large Language Model utilization and chatbot technology for customer service automation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- OPT (Organization, Practices, Technology) Consulting Approach A holistic consulting methodology that simultaneously addresses clients' organization, work practices, and technology implementation to ensure successful water and wastewater utility transformation projects, refined over 50 years.
- Operations Consulting Services Performance and compliance management systems, energy management programs, mobile workforce management, and operations practices optimization for water and wastewater utilities.
- Technology Services Cybersecurity assessments, data management and analytics, control system operations optimization, SCADA master planning, IT strategy, GIS implementation, and enterprise system integrations for water utilities.
- Strategy Services Strategic planning, business process redesign and optimization, program management, benchmarking, and organizational effectiveness consulting for water and wastewater utilities.
- Customer Services Consulting Contact center optimization, customer information system implementation, Meter to Cash program management, customer self-service portal selection, and billing/debt management strategies for water utilities.
- Workforce Services Organizational assessments, workload analysis, training and development, knowledge retention, and staffing optimization for water and wastewater utility organizations.
- Asset Management Services Enterprise asset and work management gap analysis, requirements capture, application evaluation and selection, implementation support, mobile application implementation, on-premises to SaaS transitions, and database conversion services for water utilities.
Quantifiable outcome
- Results include sustainable investments, cost savings on asset repairs, organizational alignment, self-sufficient utilities, people-focused culture shifts, resilient systems, data-backed decisions, customer satisfaction improvements, and optimized programs — though specific quantified figures are not publicly disclosed.
Companies that use EMA
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
EMA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability3 records
Feature5 records
EMA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- SynopsyscoreNASA selected Synopsys and EMA (Electro Magnetic Applications, Inc.) to research and verify Artemis spacesuit charging levels from triboelectrification and electrostatic discharge risks. The two companies apply physics-based analysis workflows using Ansys Charge Plus simulation software, paired with validation testing at EMA's Space Environment and Radiation Effects Laboratory, to evaluate spacesuit materials and reduce risks to extravehicular activity systems. EMA and Synopsys collaborate on both simulation and physical testing for the NASA Artemis program.
- NASAcoreNASA selected EMA (Electro Magnetic Applications, Inc.) alongside Synopsys for the Artemis program spacesuit testing project. EMA provides its Space Environment and Radiation Effects Laboratory for physical testing of spacesuit materials and design under simulated lunar conditions, analyzing triboelectrification and electrostatic discharge risks to protect extravehicular activity systems and mission-critical electronics.
- Smart Water Network Forum (SWAN)minorEMA holds active membership in the Smart Water Network Forum, participating in an industry ecosystem focused on smart water technologies and digital transformation in the water sector.
- National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA)minorEMA maintains active membership in NACWA, the national trade association representing publicly owned wastewater treatment utilities, supporting advocacy and professional development in the sector.
- The Water Research Foundation (WRF)minorEMA participates in The Water Research Foundation as a member, supporting research and innovation in water quality and utility management.
- American Water Works Association (AWWA)minorEMA holds active membership in AWWA, the largest nonprofit water supply association, participating in industry standards, training, and advocacy.
- Water Environment Federation (WEF)minorEMA is a member of the Water Environment Federation, a not-for-profit association that provides technical training and resources for water quality professionals.
- Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA)minorEMA participates in AMWA, representing publicly owned water utilities, as part of its industry engagement and thought leadership positioning.
- RiSWP (Water Customer Care Forum)minorEMA holds an Ambassador Agreement with the RiSWP (Water Customer Care Forum), supporting best practices in customer service and billing operations for water utilities.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
EMA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Brown and Caldwell: Employee-owned consulting and engineering firm exclusively focused on water and wastewater utilities. Closest comparable to EMA on domain specialization, ownership model (ESOP), and consultative delivery to municipal utilities.
- Carollo Engineers: Employee-owned water and wastewater engineering and management consulting firm. Directly comparable in vertical specialization, advisory-plus-technology delivery, and U.S. utility client base.
- Hazen and Sawyer: Water and wastewater specialty consulting firm serving municipal utilities across the U.S. Comparable in vertical-only focus and project-based advisory work to EMA.
- CDM Smith: Global engineering and construction firm with a major water and environment practice serving municipal clients. Overlaps with EMA on water-utility advisory, SCADA, and asset management engagements, but at significantly larger scale.
Broad incumbents
- Black & Veatch: Large global engineering, procurement, and construction firm with a substantial water business. Competes with EMA on utility transformation, SCADA, and cybersecurity but is broader and more infrastructure-capex-heavy.
- Stantec: Global engineering, consulting, and project delivery firm with water as a core vertical. Overlaps with EMA on utility advisory and digital transformation, but is much larger and more diversified geographically.
- HDR Inc. Engineering and consulting firm with a dedicated water business group serving municipal utilities. Comparable on water-utility advisory and asset management, but broader across transportation, healthcare, and federal markets.
- Jacobs Solutions: Global professional services firm with a significant water and advanced facilities practice. Overlaps with EMA on utility consulting, SCADA/cybersecurity, and asset management, but is far larger and more diversified.
- Arcadis: Global design and consultancy with a water and resilience practice serving utilities. Comparable to EMA on water-sector advisory, but with much broader international footprint and scale.
Emerging players
- West Monroe Partners: U.S. management and technology consulting firm with a dedicated utilities practice covering AMI, customer experience, and digital transformation. Competes with EMA on the IT/technology side of utility engagements, especially AMI and customer information systems.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
EMA social profiles
Digital presenceEMA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
EMA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
EMA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
EMA M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about EMA
What does EMA do?
EMA provides project-based consulting and advisory services to municipal and investor-owned water and wastewater utilities, applying its proprietary OPT (Organization, Practices, and Technology) framework to deliver holistic transformation across operations, technology, strategy, customer service, workforce, and asset management. Service offerings span SCADA master planning, cybersecurity assessments, enterprise asset management implementation, customer information systems, advanced metering infrastructure, and AI/chatbot integration.
Is EMA a public or private company?
EMA is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was EMA founded?
EMA was founded in 1975. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is EMA based?
EMA is headquartered in Saint Paul, United States, in the North America region.
How does EMA make money?
One revenue line is on record: consulting and Advisory Services.
Who are EMA's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Brown and Caldwell, Carollo Engineers, Hazen and Sawyer and CDM Smith. Broad incumbents are Black & Veatch, Stantec, HDR Inc., Jacobs Solutions and Arcadis. West Monroe Partners is listed as an emerging player.
Does EMA have an API?
No public API is recorded for EMA.
What industry is EMA in?
EMA's product category is Water Utility Consulting Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAFAGAK, SCADA, Instrumentation & Controls Integration for Water/Wastewater Projects, with a secondary code of EUANAFAK, Desalination Plant EPC, O&M & Performance Optimization. Its NAICS code is 54162 and its SIC code is 8742.