Manufacturing refers to the process of transforming raw materials, components, or parts into finished products that can be sold to customers.  It involves a wide range of activities, such as designing, planning, producing, testing, and delivering products, and it can be applied to various industries, including automotive, aerospace, electronics, and consumer goods.

The manufacturing process typically involves several stages, starting with the design of the product and ending with the delivery of the finished product to customers.  The stages in between may include the procurement of raw materials, the production of components or parts, assembly of the finished product, and quality testing to ensure that the product meets specific standards and specifications.  Manufacturing methods can vary depending on the industry and the product being produced.  Some common methods include casting, forging, machining, stamping, and injection molding.  Automation and robotics are increasingly being used to improve manufacturing efficiency, speed, and consistency.

Quality control is an important aspect of manufacturing, as it ensures that products meet certain standards and specifications.  Quality control can include inspections, testing, and statistical analysis to identify and correct defects or issues in the production process.

In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on sustainable manufacturing, which seeks to reduce waste, conserve resources, and minimize the environmental impact of manufacturing processes.  Sustainable manufacturing practices can include the use of renewable energy sources, recycling and reuse of materials, and reducing the use of toxic chemicals.  Overall, manufacturing plays a critical role in the global economy, providing goods and products that are essential to modern life.  Advances in technology and sustainability practices are helping to improve the efficiency and environmental impact of manufacturing processes, making them more responsible and beneficial to society.

• See Articles  -  List of Tags, List of Categories, List of Articles, List of Glossaries, Nomenclature and Symbols, (See Manufacturing Glossary)

Manufacturing Process Types (Origional 5)

A manufactuting process is how a company builds or creates products.  Each manufacturer establishes their own production method based on their customer demand, materials required, assembly process, and sales forcasts.

• Discrete Manufacturing  -  Similar to repetitive manufacturing, with the same dedicated lines but with a variation of setup and changeoper frequencies.
• Job Shop Manufacturing  -  Unlikely you will have discrete or repetitive processes.  There will have dedicated areas or workstations for a single or multiple product.
• Process Manufacturing (Batch)  -  Similar to discrete, but when one batch is complete, the equipment is cleaned and readied for the next product.
• Process Manufacturing (Continuous)  -  Similar to repetitive, but the process produces raw materials like gasses, liquids, powders, and slurries.
• Repetitive Manufacturing  -  A process that has dedicated assembly/production lines that produce the same item/items 24/7, all year round.

Manufacturing process Types (other)

Additive  -  A 3D printing process.  There are more types of 3D printing.

• Fused Deposition  (FDM)  -  These printers use a thermoplastic filament, which is heated to its melting point and then extruded.
• Stereolithography (SLA)  -  Uses a vat of liquid photopolymers resin that can be cured.  The build plate moves in small increments and the liquid polymer is exposed to light where the UV lasier draws a cross-section layer by layer.

Casting  -  Pouring of material into a mold.

• Centrifugal  -  A molten material is poured into a circular mold rotating around its center axis.
• Die  -  Molten metal entering a cavity under pressure.
• Investment  -  A wax casting is made and used to create a mold from the master pattern.

Forming  -  The metal is subjected to heavy loads to permanently deform without adding or removing the material.

• Bending  -  Process creating U-shaped or V-shaped bends on a material.
• Compressive  -  Compression stress is applied to the material resulting in an alteration of the shape.
• Shearing  -  Altering the metal shape with shear force.
• Tensile  -  An applied stress to a material resulting in stretching of the material.

Joining  -  When components are joined togeather temporarily or permanently.

• Adhesive Bonding  -  The joining of a material or materials with an adhesive.
• Press Fitting  -  Two parts engineered to join together perfectly.
• Welding  -  Fabrication process that fuses like materials togeather by heating them to a suitable temperatures.

Machining  -  A material removal process where the raw material is shaped into the desired product.

Moulding  -  Shaping liquid or pliable raw materials using a mold.

Painting and Labeling  -  This is what happens at the end of the manufacturing process.

• Inkjet Printer  -  A process that deposits tiny drops of ink rom a nozzle onto paper from a moving carriage assembly.
• Laser Engraving  -  A concentrated beam of light that cuts through the material creating a detailed shape.
• Rotary Engraving  -  A rotary tool cuts away the material creating the desired shape.