The manufacturing industry plays an invaluable role in the development of both emerging economies and developed markets. Not only does this sector have immense scope in terms of technological advancements but also remains one of the most labor-intensive industries in the world. The manufacturing industry definitely has come a long way since the industrial revolution.
It may be surprising to learn that many people with great talent and experience have a hard time answering questions about the types of manufacturing processes that exist in their respective companies. These processes vary depending on each sector and the end-products. There are multiple types of manufacturing processes that a manufacturer uses, and here at Science Park, we have grouped them into four main categories:
Joining
You can only get so far with molds and machines. At some point you need to be able to put multiple parts together to make one piece. The parts manufactured cannot function in isolation. This makes joining or assembling one of the integral types of manufacturing process. Joining uses processes like welding and soldering to apply heat to combine materials. Pieces can also be joined using adhesive bonding or fasteners.
Shearing and Forming
Shearing comes handy when dealing with sheet metal. Shearing uses cutting blades to make straight cuts into a piece of metal. Also known as die cutting, you’ll often see shearing used on aluminum, brass, bronze and stainless steel. Forming is another important function among the different types of manufacturing, which uses compression or another type of stress to move materials into the desired shape. Forming is often used with metal, however, it can also be used on other materials, including plastic.
Molding
If the products you’re creating start out as liquid, chances are the manufacturer uses molding. Molding is one of the most popular types of manufacturing processes that’s being used for products that start out as liquids. Casting is one of the popular forms of molding and involves heating plastics until it turns liquid and then pouring it into a mold. The mold is designed in the desired shape of the final product.
Machining
It would be difficult to make products like metal parts without the use of some type of machine. Machines are an important element of every manufacturing process, especially in the production of products like metal parts. Today, tools like saws, sheers, and rotating wheels are being used in manufacturing units. Innovations such as laser machines have the capability to cut a piece of metal using a high-energy light beam and plasma torches can easily turn gas into plasma using electricity. There are also erosion machines that apply a similar principle using water or electricity, and computer numerical control machines introduce computer programming into the manufacturing mix.
