Manufacturing Classifications

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering the technological and economic definitions of manufacturing, material types, and the complete hierarchy of manufacturing and shaping processes.

Manufacturing (Technological definition)

The application of physical and chemical processes to alter geometry, properties and appearance of materials to make products.

Manufacturing (Economic definition)

The transformation of materials into products of greater value through processing and assembly operations.

Value adding

The process of increasing usefulness, desirability or market value through manufacturing.

Main Material Categories

The four categories of materials used in manufacturing: Metals, Ceramics, Polymers, and Composites.

Major Manufacturing Process Categories

The two primary divisions of manufacturing processes: Processing operations and Assembly operations.

Processing operations

Operations that change the geometry, properties or appearance of a workpiece.

Assembly operations

Operations that join two or more components together.

Processing operation categories

The three types of processing operations: Shaping operations, Property-enhancing operations, and Surface-processing operations.

Shaping operations

Processes that alter the geometry of a workpiece.

Property-enhancing operations

Processes that improve material properties without significantly changing the shape of the part.

Surface-processing operations

Processes that improve surface characteristics of a material.

Shaping operation categories

The five categories of shaping: Solidification, Particulate, Deformation, Material Removal, and Additive Processes.

Solidification processes

Processes where molten material solidifies into a specific shape, such as casting.

Particulate processing

Manufacturing using powders that are compacted and bonded together.

Deformation processes

Processes that reshape material through applied forces, such as forging and rolling.

Material removal processes

Processes that create a desired shape by removing material, such as milling and turning.

Additive processes

Processes that build parts by adding material layer-by-layer.

Casting

An example process that belongs to the Solidification category of shaping operations.

Forging

A reshape process that belongs to the Deformation category of shaping operations.

Milling

A process that belongs to the Material Removal category of shaping operations.

SLS

A technique that belongs to the Additive Manufacturing category of shaping processes.

Powder metallurgy

A manufacturing method categorized under Particulate Processing.

Manufacturing Classification Tree

The hierarchical structure: Manufacturing → Processing Operations (Shaping, Property Enhancing, Surface Processing) and Assembly Operations.