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Manufacturing is the creation or production of goods with the help of equipment, labor, machines, tools, and chemical or biological processing or formulation. It is the essence of secondary sector of the economy. It is most commonly applied to industrial design, in which raw materials from the primary sector are transformed into finished goods on a large scale. Manufacturing engineering, or the manufacturing process, are the steps through which raw materials are transformed into a final product. The manufacturing process begins with the product design, and materials specification from which the product is made. These materials are then modified through manufacturing processes to become the desired part.

Manufacturing can fall into a few different categories, including Additive manufacturing: commonly referred to as 3D printing, involves the use of layers that are built up upon each other to create shapes and patterns in a three-dimensional process using a special piece of equipment, such as a 3D printer. Advanced manufacturing: This method involves new forms of technology to improve the production process. Companies can add even more value to the raw materials they use to better serve their target markets. Newer technologies also help bring new products to market faster while increasing output. Contract manufacturing: This involves companies enter into partnerships and business relationships with other firms to outsource certain manufacturing processes. For example, an automotive company may hire a third party to make parts that it will use in its assembly lines to make cars.

Mass production and assembly line manufacturing allowed companies to create parts that could be used interchangeably and allowed finished products to be easily made by reducing the need for part customization. Computers and precision electronic equipment have since allowed companies to pioneer high-tech manufacturing methods. Companies that use these methods typically carry a higher price but also require more specialized labor and higher capital investment.