The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is a system that classifies certain industries based on specific parameters. The main purpose for the system is to provide a classification system for the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics and other organizations that may

Glass production is generally broken down into two main categories, namely those processes used to manufacture plate, and blown, or molded, products. Although each category features a multitude of separate, specialist products, the basic glass production line layout for each remains similar

Integrated mills are production and manufacturing facilities in which raw materials are refined and then used to produce goods that normally would be produced at other locations. This type of unified or integrated model can be successfully used in a number of manufacturing settings, includin

Steel is an alloy produced by the addition of several alloying elements to molten iron. This is usually achieved using one of two processes, namely basic oxygen steelmaking (BOS) or electric arc furnace (EAF) processes. The BOS process is typically used to produce steel from carbon-rich pig

Magnetic separation is an industrial process where ferromagnetic contaminants are recovered from materials on the production line. Manufacturers use this to extract useful metal, separate recycling, purify materials, and perform a wide variety of other tasks. Manufacturers of magnetic separa

Automated optical inspection (AOI) is a system that is able to visually inspect products to see if they are perfect or faulty. AOI systems are used on a variety of products, such as car parts, food and labels. The most intensive automated optical inspection system is used in the printed circ

Flame polishing is the process of creating a smooth surface on a material by melting it slightly with a hot flame. This process is usually used on acrylics and glass to produce a sheen or smooth surface. A torch is necessary to complete this process properly, and the user must have significa

Jewelry casting is the process of creating a model pattern on wax. This wax mold is then used to hold hot metal to shape it into uniform items based on the model. Lost wax casting, as the procedure is often called, dates back to dentistry in the early 1900s. It stemmed from dental casting to

The fertilizer industry is a collective of manufacturers, distributors and suppliers that provide nutrients to farmers who need them to grow crops. Many members of this industry are multinational companies that have a business presence around the world. Like other significant industries, it

The static mixer is a tube-like device that is used for mixing fluids, such as two liquids; two gases; or mixing a gas into a liquid by dispersing the gas into an immiscible liquid — a liquid incapable of forming a solution. A static mixer may be made with materials such as stainless steel,

A computer numerically controlled (CNC) router cutter is a complex cutting machine that uses a large work area, a cutter, and an electronic computerized component to perform automated cutting techniques. The purpose of a CNC router cutter is to cut different materials, such as wood or metal,

Vertical market software is a type of program made to cater to a specific audience instead of the common consumer. Each program is highly specialized for a given market, so the software must match the user’s needs. Vertical market software must also include useful features for the user and b

A flow show is type of monitor used in the drilling industry on a drilling rig. It allows the operators and users to monitor the drilling fluid flow. This is how it got the name flow show. Monitoring the flow of the fluid that is being drilled is very important for different reasons, includi

Typically, a kanban board is a physical chart located in a central area of a manufacturing plant. It is designed to keep project goals and tasks highly visible for all team members. Kanban boards are arranged in rows and columns, with each column or row representing a specific goal, project,

Vibratory finishing is one process that can be used to smooth objects by placing them into a vibrating device along with pellets of an appropriate material. The vibrating action of the device causes the finishing material to work against the workpieces and can cause a deburring, descaling, o

Remanufacturing is a form of recycling that reuses machines that no longer work. This process is performed by disassembling a machine to repair it, recycle it, or harvest its parts. Remanufactured equipment is available in many types of machines, including home computers, office equipment, a

There are many differences between lean and agile manufacturing, including production style, inventory levels, and customization abilities. A lean manufacturing technique is based on the mass assembly line strategy with a mixture of employees and machines creating products from the smallest

In order to understand the concept of custom metal fabrication, it is necessary to understand the meaning of metal fabrication. The term metal fabrication is used to describe the process of working with metal for various purposes, which includes the cutting of various metals and working them

Blanking is a stage in the manufacturing process where dies are used to punch metal blanks in preparation for processing and finishing. For example, a company manufacturing medals can run a coil of sheet metal through a blanking machine, which cuts out circles which can be stamped with the m

The laser printing process is an advanced process that is much more intensive than inkjet printing, in which ink is just sprayed on paper. When an image is sent to a laser printer, a roller begins to spin to build up static electricity. A laser then places the to-be-printed image or text on