types of manufacturing industries Related: Important Points - Manufac...
Types of manufacturing industry
Metallurgical industry
As a “heavy” manufacturing industry, the metallurgical industry is concerned with refining, alloying and fabrication of metals. Of these, the iron and steel industry is the most important, since many projects require several thousand tons of iron and steel as raw materials. Other metallurgical industries that are prominent in manufacturing include those that smelt, refine and process metals excluding iron.
Engineering industry
Engineering is a heavy industry that relies heavily on the output of the metallurgical industries. Like many other industries, engineering has several branches. The major ones include transport equipment (shipbuilding, automobile, aircraft, and railway); electrical (heavy and light); and industrial machinery.
Chemicals industry
The chemicals industry is a very significant one in the modern era since chemicals are required for a myriad of economic activity. The chemical industry is subdivided into three broad categories: heavy chemicals (using mineral deposits or by-products), pharmaceuticals (drugs and medicines) and petrochemicals (chemicals derived from fuel sources).
Textile industry
The clothing and textile industry is one of the oldest manufacturing industries, although it now relies heavily on mechanized textile manufacture. Whereas other industries are confined to certain areas, the production of textile is widespread – due to a number of factors, including demand and availability of raw materials.
Food processing industry
Food processing is an example of light industry, although food processing can take place on a large scale. It involves the processing of raw materials (e.g. wheat) into foodstuffs (e.g. flour), food preservation and food packaging.
Hi-tech industry
In the age of knowledge workers and advanced technology, the high-tech industry relies heavily on research and development and is capital intensive. This is a form of the secondary industry since it involves production. It can overlap with other types of manufacturing industries – such as transport and energy for example.