< Go Back What is the Difference between Manufacturing and Fabrication? Manufacturing and fabrication are industrial terms used in connection
with construction processes. Both these terms are used interchangeably as they
are often employed together but are widely different processes that employ
different specialized skills, procedures, tools, and machinery for the process.
This article will explore the
meaning of Manufacturing and Fabrication in an industrial setting and see how
these processes differ.
Give the information about manufacturing and
fabrication below a quick read:
Manufacturing
Manufacturing is the process of
creating something from scratch. This process uses raw materials to produce
finished products and employs the use of technology for this purpose. Heavy
machinery, specialised tools, chemicals, and natural processes are routinely
used during manufacturing. Often, manual skilled labour and extensive assembly
lines also become part of the process to get the final product. In a nutshell,
it is the process that turns raw materials into final products with the use of
skilled labour, and specialised machinery. The possibilities are endless. Some
of the examples of manufacturing sectors include, but are not limited to
leather, lumber, apparel, printing, electronics, cosmetics, chemicals, oil
refinery etc.
Manufacturing is generally
categorised into five types namely,
●
Repetitive Manufacturing – Basic
manufacturing that creates the same product on an assembly line. Discrete
Manufacturing – The process and products are varied.
●
Job Shop Manufacturing – Open system
without assembly lines.
●
Continuous Process Manufacturing –
Process and products are the same and in constant demand.
●
Batch Process Manufacturing – Products
are made in batches controlled by time frame.
Fabrication
Fabrication is the process of
refining raw materials and making them suitable for further construction
through various methods. This term is mostly used about metal fabrication which
entails the process of cutting, bending, shearing, welding, stamping, welding,
assembling etc. To ensure the standard of fabrication, computer programs called
computer-aided designs (CAD) which are programmed using computer numerical
control (CNC) technology are used. This program works directly with the
machinery to make sure that the fabrication process is consistent, accurate and
precise.
So, what’s the Difference between Fabrication and Manufacturing?
difference
between Manufacturing and Fabrication is that Manufacturing is the process of
creating a completed product for sale to consumers, while Fabrication is the
process of creating a product for use by manufacturers. It is essentially the
same difference as it is between a factory and a workshop for example. This
difference can seem nuanced sometimes, and some sub-processes do fall under
each other’s umbrellas, but both these processes remain different as a whole.
An expert manufacturing and fabrication team will be able to help you better
understand and meet the demands of your project.
Contact Karpa Engineering Solutions Ltd.
Reach out tokarpa.co.uk for any inquiries about your
engineering needs. We have solutions for all yourmachinery installation /relocation , decommission/removal, andmaintenance problems .
If you enjoyed this article,
please feel free to share it on your favourite social media sites.
