What is Manufacturing?

Products from raw materials that are prepared and refined by the use of manual labour or machinery in any
industry are a process called manufacturing. This process begins with product design and materials selection.
After that, the materials are modified during various manufacturing processes to create the finished product.
Manufacturing makes it possible for an inventor’s brainchild to complete the journey to becoming a consumer’s
favorite gadget. Moreover, manufacturing creates opportunity across industry value chains by increasing
demand for raw materials, energy, construction, technology, and services from a broad array of supplying
industries in the economy. An optimized manufacturing process can mean the difference between success and
failure for any product.

According to Abby Jenkins (2022), manufacturing can be classified into two broad categories: discrete and
process manufacturing. Discrete manufacturing converts raw materials and components into items ranging
from cars to cell phones and clothing. Process manufacturing, in contrast, combines ingredients according to
formulas or recipes to generate bulk quantities of goods, such as beverages, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals.
Different styles of manufacturing serve different needs, whether custom small-batch production or fully
automated factories that run around the clock.

Manufacturing is usually carried out systematically by a variety of specializations. It involves multiple steps to
turn raw materials into finished products, including product planning and design, prototyping, commercial
production, inspection, and delivery. Manufacturers often use assembly lines to produce goods faster with
lower labor costs and skill requirements. With this approach, products are manufactured in stages as they
move along successive workstations along an assembly line.

Explanation of factory organization and organization charts

An organization is a body built for a collection of individuals who join together to achieve some common goals
and objectives, bounded by legal entities. Organizations are useful for helping businesses make their
operations better and more efficient. Having a hierarchy can help teams and companies in many ways, like
making administrative tasks easier and letting employees specialize.

According to James Chen (2025), these organizations, such as factory organizations, concern themselves
primarily with the internal relationships within them, such as responsibilities of personnel arrangement and
grouping of machines, and material control using tools such as organizational charts that are used to show all
these organizational structures. The charts either broadly depict an enterprise organization-wide or drill down
to a specific department or unit. It's one way to visualize a bureaucracy. Organizational charts graphically
display an employee's hierarchical status relative to other individuals within the company. For example, an
assistant director will invariably fall directly below a director on the chart, indicating that the former reports to
the latter. Regardless of an organization's structure, org charts are extraordinarily useful when an entity is
contemplating restructuring its workforce or changing its management structure. Most importantly, org charts
let employees transparently see how their roles fit into the overall company structure.

The two types of organizational chart formats that are most often used are hierarchical and flat. Hierarchical is
the most common. It shows the ranking of individuals based on their role in the organization in a descending
vertical order. A flat format, also known as a horizontal org chart, places all individuals on a few levels or even
one level. This suggests that the organization is structured in a way that empowers its members to make
decisions autonomously.

History and evolution of manufacturing

During what is now known as the Industrial Revolution, the manufacturing sector underwent its first significant
change. This change took place in the 18th century when new processes were developed that made it possible
for machines to produce goods in place of people. Thomas Newcom created the steam engine in 1712, and it
was used to pump water out of mines. James Watt refined Newcomen's invention by the late 1700s, and it was
now utilized to power locomotives, ships, and machinery. By the end of the 18th century, it had made its way to
the United States, having started in England in 1760.

The assembly line's introduction marked the next change in manufacturing. In 1901, automobile manufacturer
Ransom E. Olds received the first patent for the assembly line. Ford is recognized as the originator of both
mass manufacturing automobiles and the assembly line. Using a conveyor system and moving platforms, he
enhanced Olds's system.

Next, Toyota Motor Corporation created what they dubbed "Lean Manufacturing" in 1948. This procedure was
created to detect and remove waste in order to enhance the production flow. Because it demanded greater
effort and close observation, this system was a significant departure from earlier ones. Toyota continues to
employ its version of the lean manufacturing system, which they have improved over time.

Fast forward to the present day, and our manufacturing systems are primarily machine and robotics-
dominated. According to an article by The New York Times, Wensley was quoted in 1933 as saying, “In time to
come, the only work to be done by men and women will be that which requires faculties of discernment,
discretion, and judgment. All other work – anything repetitive, routine, standardized – can better be done by
machines.”

Modern role and significance of manufacturing

Through the effective mass production of materials, manufacturing drove innovation, allowed human
populations and societies to expand, and enhanced quality of life throughout history. One could argue that
manufacturing has taken on a significant role in a number of ways.

Manufacturing directly contributes to the 3 percent annual increase in technical productivity in the United
States. Additionally, Automation in the manufacturing sectors drives exponential technological and economic
growth since machines can now design, engineer, and maintain other machines.

Manufactured goods are necessary to provide services, even though the service sector accounts for the
majority of global economies. For instance, selling manufactured goods is central to the business strategy of
the retail and warehousing sectors, which account for 11% of the GDP. Computer hardware, phone lines, and
airplanes are essential to software companies, utilities, and airlines.

In addition, manufacturing jobs generate additional employment. Because wages are spent elsewhere in the
economy, every manufacturing job in the United States generates three additional jobs, according to the
Economic Policy Institute. Furthermore, manufacturing lowers poverty and generates middle-class jobs. Due to
the unionization of many manufacturing jobs, workers have collective bargaining power.
Engineering Metals and Manufacturing Processes: Properties, Uses, and Techniques

For any engineering project to be successful, choosing the appropriate materials is crucial. However, it can be
challenging to choose the best materials for your needs given the wide variety of options available. One of the
materials used in the construction of man-made components and structures is engineering metal. A metal is
combined with one or more other metallic and/or non-metallic materials to form them. High electrical and
thermal conductivity, ductility, malleability, and a reflective, glossy surface are characteristics of metals.
Furthermore, the "free" electrons that give a solid its metallic electrical, thermal, and optical characteristics are
created by metallic bonding, in which the solid as a whole shares valence electrons. This class of engineering
materials, particularly metal alloys, is the most widely used.

Because they are used to build the framework of skyscrapers and sophisticated machinery, metals are the
foundation of engineering. Metals are important in mechanical engineering because of their high melting point,
durability, inventiveness, high strength-to-weight ratio, and efficiency in a variety of industries. Furthermore,
because of their exceptional qualities that make them appropriate for use as engineering materials, metals are
used in the construction of tools, machinery, and structural elements.

From the gadget you are reading this on to the iron beams supporting bridges, metal components can be found
almost anywhere. There are numerous ways to create metal parts, such as forging, which involves forcing hot
metal into a shape by compressing it; casting, which involves pouring molten metal into a mold and allowing it
to cool and hold its shape; drawing, which pulls metal into a tapered die using tensile force; forming, which
involves bending metal at specific points to create the desired part; and machining, which can take many
different forms, including drilling, cutting, punching, stamping, welding, turning, or milling.

Engineering Non-Metals and Manufacturing Processes: Properties, Uses, and Techniques

A manufacturer may decide to use non-metallic materials instead of metallic ones when machining a new
component for a variety of reasons. They are simple to make, can maintain their physical and chemical
makeup while being machined, and don't need after-treatment finishes like metals do. These materials also
have the benefit of being substantially less expensive over the long and short terms. They also withstand harsh
chemicals well, are lightweight, and do not corrode. Additionally, they are non-conductive, which makes them a
popular option for thermal and electrical insulation.

Non-metallic materials in manufacturing can be divided into four categories: natural, elastomers,
thermoplastics, and thermosets. These four non-metals are the most widely used in the manufacturing sector,
though there are others. You might be surprised to learn that this non-metal element is actually present in
many of the items we use on a daily basis. Such an example is the thermoplastic polycarbonate that is used in
media like CDs, DVDs, water bottles, and even your eyeglass lenses. Another is Polyethylene thermoplastic,
which is used in plastic bags, electrical wires, and shampoo and squeeze bottles. It is crucial to regularly
collect and recycle these commonplace items because of this.

When processing non-metals, engineers can employ a variety of processing methods that are available in
manufacturing. First, there are two main forming processes: molding and casting. Then there are deformative
processes like extrusion and forging, though there may be other processes that fit this description as well.
Forging and extrusion are just two general examples. There are two types of drawings: wire and tube. All of
these procedures are classified as deformative procedures. Next, there are material removal procedures that
separate the material from the raw material and give it the final shape that is needed. After that, there are
joining techniques like brazing, adhesive joining, welding, and even soldering. Permanent joining procedures
and temporary joining procedures are both possible. Lastly, we move on to the finishing procedures, which
may include grinding as well as additional steps like honing and lapping, depending on the particular needs.