Manufacturing

Manufacturing describes the transformation of raw materials into finished goods for sale. It is also known by the term secondary industry.

Modern-style manufacturing industries are generally regarded as beginning around 1750 with the Industrial Revolution.

Whilst it remains a huge part of the modern world economy, many of the world's wealthiest nations devote a smaller and smaller proportion of their workforce to manufacturing enterprises due to their relocation to lower-wage countries and the rising proportion of economic activity devoted to tertiary industry.

See also:

• Primary industry
• Wholesaler
• factory
• just in time manufacturing
• lean manufacturing