Manufacturing | Saving Earth | Encyclopedia Britannica

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›</span> </div> </a> </div> <div class="mega-column mega-feature"> <h4>Environmental Legislation</h4> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/savingearth/50-years-us-environmental-legislation" class="megamenu-feature"> <div class="megamenu-thumb" style="background-image: url('https://explore.britannica.com/explore/savingearth/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/03/environmental-law-hero-300x300.jpg');"></div> <div class="megamenu-excerpt"> <h3>Environmental Legislation</h3> <p>The past 50 years encompass nearly all of the major milestones in U.S. environmental legislation. </p> <span>Learn More ›</span> </div> </a> </div> <div class="mega-column mega-feature"> <h4>Environmental Setbacks</h4> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/savingearth/50-years-environmental-set-backs" class="megamenu-feature"> <div class="megamenu-thumb" style="background-image: 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Test your knowledge with this quiz.</p> <span>Start the Quiz</span> </div> </a> </div> <div class="mega-column mega-feature"> <h4>Biodiversity loss</h4> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/savingearth/test-your-knowledge__trashed/biodiversity-loss-quiz" class="megamenu-feature"> <div class="megamenu-thumb" style="background-image: url('https://explore.britannica.com/explore/savingearth/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/04/BiodiversitylossQuizHero-300x300.jpg');"></div> <div class="megamenu-excerpt"> <h3>Biodiversity Loss Quiz</h3> <p>Do you know about the threats facing nonhuman life on Earth? Take this quiz to test your knowledge.</p> <span>Start the Quiz</span> </div> </a> </div> <div class="mega-column mega-feature"> <h4>Climate change</h4> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/savingearth/test-your-knowledge__trashed/climate-change-quiz" class="megamenu-feature"> <div class="megamenu-thumb" style="background-image: url('https://explore.britannica.com/explore/savingearth/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/04/0000158166-ebind2795-0221-300x300.jpg');"></div> <div class="megamenu-excerpt"> <h3>Climate Change Quiz</h3> <p>Which gases play an important role in climate change? Test your knowledge of this "hot" topic with this quiz.</p> <span>Learn More ›</span> </div> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="megamenu-panel" id="megamenu-5"> <div class="container"> <div class="mega-column mega-feature"> <h4>Your Actions</h4> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/savingearth/everyday-tips" class="megamenu-feature"> <div class="megamenu-thumb" style="background-image: url('https://explore.britannica.com/explore/savingearth/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/04/caspar-camille-rubin-37013-unsplash-300x300.jpg');"></div> <div class="megamenu-excerpt"> <h3>Everyday Environmental Tips</h3> <p>Your actions as an informed consumer have great power, and consumer-driven change is already happening.</p> <span>Learn More ›</span> </div> </a> </div> <div class="mega-column mega-feature"> <h4>Activists</h4> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/savingearth/meet-the-activists" class="megamenu-feature"> <div class="megamenu-thumb" style="background-image: 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class="mega-column mega-feature"> <h4>Postcards from the 6th Mass Extinction </h4> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/savingearth/postcards-from-the-6th-mass-extinction" class="megamenu-feature"> <div class="megamenu-thumb" style="background-image: url('https://explore.britannica.com/explore/savingearth/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2020/05/whale-1-300x300.jpg');"></div> <div class="megamenu-excerpt"> <h3>Postcards from the 6th Mass Extinction</h3> <p>Britannica Earth Scientist John Rafferty examines Earth’s current episode of mass extinction</p> <span>Listen now</span> </div> </a> </div> <div class="mega-column mega-feature"> <h4>Botanize</h4> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/savingearth/botanize" class="megamenu-feature"> <div class="megamenu-thumb" style="background-image: url('https://explore.britannica.com/explore/savingearth/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/04/markus-spiske-104913-unsplash-300x300.jpg');"></div> <div class="megamenu-excerpt"> <h3>Botanize</h3> <p>Britannica botanist Melissa Petruzzello explores what keeps the world green… or not. </p> <span>Listen now</span> </div> </a> </div> <div class="mega-column mega-feature"> <h4>On-This-Day</h4> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/study/on-this-day-podcast" class="megamenu-feature"> <div class="megamenu-thumb" style="background-image: url('https://explore.britannica.com/explore/savingearth/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2020/11/ootdpd0001a4_150x150.jpg');"></div> <div class="megamenu-excerpt"> <h3>Listen to the Stories of the Day</h3> <span>Listen now</span> </div> </a> </div> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> </header> <main class="main"> <article id="post-39"> <div class="hero"> <img width="3000" height="1170" src="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/savingearth/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/03/manufacturing-hero.jpg" class="hero-blurred wp-post-image" alt="" srcset="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/savingearth/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/03/manufacturing-hero.jpg 3000w, https://explore.britannica.com/explore/savingearth/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/03/manufacturing-hero-768x300.jpg 768w, https://explore.britannica.com/explore/savingearth/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/03/manufacturing-hero-1024x399.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 3000px) 100vw, 3000px" /><img width="3000" height="1170" src="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/savingearth/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/03/manufacturing-hero.jpg" class="hero-featured wp-post-image" alt="" loading="lazy" srcset="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/savingearth/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/03/manufacturing-hero.jpg 3000w, https://explore.britannica.com/explore/savingearth/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/03/manufacturing-hero-768x300.jpg 768w, https://explore.britannica.com/explore/savingearth/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/03/manufacturing-hero-1024x399.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 3000px) 100vw, 3000px" /> </div> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="content col-12"> <h1 class="entry-title"><span>Manufacturing</span></h1> <header class="entry-meta"> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/savingearth/category/pollution" class="cat-link"><span class="cat-icon"><img src="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/savingearth/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/04/icon-smog.png" /></span><span class="cat-label">Pollution</span></a> <div class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_34 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/savingearth/manufacturing" data-a2a-title="Manufacturing"><a class="a2a_button_facebook" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fexplore.britannica.com%2Fexplore%2Fsavingearth%2Fmanufacturing&linkname=Manufacturing" title="Facebook" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/twitter?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fexplore.britannica.com%2Fexplore%2Fsavingearth%2Fmanufacturing&linkname=Manufacturing" title="Twitter" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/linkedin?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fexplore.britannica.com%2Fexplore%2Fsavingearth%2Fmanufacturing&linkname=Manufacturing" title="LinkedIn" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_email" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/email?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fexplore.britannica.com%2Fexplore%2Fsavingearth%2Fmanufacturing&linkname=Manufacturing" title="Email" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a></div> </header> <div class="entry-content"> <p class="has-drop-cap"><strong>Manufacturing</strong>, any industry that makes products from raw materials by the use of manual labour or <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/machine">machinery</a> and that is usually carried out systematically with a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/division-of-labour">division of labour</a>. (See <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/industry">industry</a>.) In a more limited sense, manufacturing denotes the fabrication or assembly of components into finished products on a fairly large scale. Among the most important manufacturing industries are those that produce aircraft, automobiles, chemicals, clothing, computers, consumer electronics, electrical equipment, furniture, heavy machinery, refined petroleum products, ships, steel, and tools and dies.</p> <div class="ad-unit ad-leaderboard acf/ad-billboard" id="adunit-block_5cac015a293fd"> <div class="ad-wrapper">  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1554214027243-0' style='height:90px; width:728px;' class="none block-l"> <script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1554214027243-0'); });</script> </div> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1554214155739-0' style='height:50px; width:320px;' class="block none-l"> <script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1554214155739-0'); });</script> </div> </div> </div> <p>Manufacturing is treated in a number of articles. For treatment of major manufacturing industries, see <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/automotive-industry">automotive industry</a>; <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/aerospace-industry">aerospace industry</a>; <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/ship-construction">ship construction</a>; <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/clothing-and-footwear-industry">clothing and footwear industry</a>; <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/floor-covering">floor coverings</a>; <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/furniture-industry">furniture industry</a>; <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/chemical-industry">chemical industry</a>; <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/soap">soap and detergent</a>; <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/dye">dye</a>; <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/pharmaceutical-industry">pharmaceutical industry</a>; <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/explosive">explosive</a>; <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/elastomer">elastomer</a>; <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/plastic">plastic</a>; <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/man-made-fiber">man-made fibre</a>; <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/surface-coating">surface coating</a>; <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/adhesive">adhesive</a>; <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/papermaking">papermaking</a>; <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/building-construction">building construction</a>; <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/electronics">electronics</a>; <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/food-preservation">food preservation</a>; <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/ceramics">industrial ceramics</a>; <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/glass-properties-composition-and-industrial-production-234890">industrial glass</a>; <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/industrial-polymers-468698">industrial polymers, major</a>; <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/mineral-deposit">mineral deposit</a>; <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/textile">textile</a>; <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/printing-publishing">printing</a>. </p> <p>For treatment of manufacturing methods, processes, and organization, see <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/automation">automation</a>; <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/production-system">production system</a>; <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/industrial-relations">industrial relations</a>. The utilization of energy in manufacturing is treated in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/energy-conversion">energy conversion</a>. For the application of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/measurement">measurement</a> and control in industrial processes, see <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/chemical-analysis">analysis</a>; <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/drafting">drafting</a>. See also <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/engineering">engineering</a>; <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/history-of-technology">technology, history of</a>.</p> <p><strong><em>Written by </em></strong><a href="https://www.britannica.com/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419"><strong><em>The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</em></strong></a><strong>.</strong> </p> <p><em>Top image credit: ©Voy-ager/Fotolia</em></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="container"> <aside class="row"> <div class="col-12 col-2-3-m"> <div class="entry-related"> <h4 class="color-default">More Articles on Pollution</h4> <ul class="list-block list-rules"> <li> <img width="370" height="280" src="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/savingearth/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/03/deepwater-horizon-hero-370x280.jpg" class="attachment-list size-list wp-post-image" alt="" loading="lazy" /> <div> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/savingearth/the-long-shadow-of-the-deepwater-horizon-disaster" title="The Long Shadow of the Deepwater Horizon Disaster">The Long Shadow of the Deepwater Horizon Disaster</a> <p>The Deepwater Horizon oil spill’s impact on the environment of the Gulf of Mexico is still being assessed.</p> </div> </li> <li> <img width="370" height="280" src="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/savingearth/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/04/0000198862-hero-370x280.jpg" class="attachment-list size-list wp-post-image" alt="" loading="lazy" /> <div> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/savingearth/extended-producer-responsibility" title="Extended Producer Responsibility">Extended Producer Responsibility</a> <p>Extended producer responsibility is a practice and policy approach in which producers are responsible for the disposal of their products after they are no longer useful to consumers.</p> </div> </li> <li> <img width="370" height="280" src="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/savingearth/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/03/hexavalent-hero-370x280.jpg" class="attachment-list size-list wp-post-image" alt="" loading="lazy" /> <div> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/savingearth/hexavalent-chromium-or-chromium-6" title="What Is Hexavalent Chromium (or Chromium-6)?">What Is Hexavalent Chromium (or Chromium-6)?</a> <p>What is hexavalent chromium, and what is it used for? 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