Production vs Manufacturing vs Machining: Difference and Comparison

Key Takeaways

1. Production is the overall process of creating goods for sale. It encompasses the entire supply chain from raw materials to finished products.
2. Manufacturing is the making or fabrication of products on a large scale using machinery. It is a subset of production focused just on the mechanical creation of goods.
3. Machining is a method of manufacturing that uses machine tools to cut, shape, and form raw materials into finished parts. It is one specific technique used in manufacturing.

What is Production?

The production uses various technologies, sources, and human resources to produce services and goods. The crucial activities involving the production process of any goods or services are – planning and strategy, resource allocation, quality control, and later distribution of these products or services. 

It includes various industries such as – agriculture, manufacturing, service-based sectors, and software development that helps contribute to the country’s development and growth. The core objective of production is to cater to the ongoing demand for products or goods in the market effectively and efficiently. 

What is Manufacturing?

Manufacturing is changing raw materials into finished goods or services via assembly, fabrication, or processing. The vision of it was to convert ideas and designs into tangible products or services. 

The critical activities involved are procurement of raw materials, fabrication process, quality control, testing, packaging, and distribution. Manufacturing may include products with custom-based production to mass-based production depending on the needs of the requirement and industry.  

What is Machining?

Machining is considered a subset of manufacturing. The primary focus of machining is to provide a specific shape and finishing to the material through the material removal process. The critical activities involving the process are Cutting, milling, and grinding materials, shaping the parts, using machines, measuring, and inspecting.

This process is used in industries where specific precision and designs, such as – automotive, aerospace, and engineering.   

Difference Between Production and Manufacturing and Machining

1. The term production is defined as the process of making services and goods using various technologies, sources, and human resources. While the term manufacturing is defined as the method through which raw materials are changed into finished goods or services via assembly, fabrication, or processing. Besides this, machining is defined as a subset of manufacturing that removes material to make a desired product or shape.
2. The scope of production is quite broad because it includes the complete process. In contrast, manufacturing has specific things, from acquiring raw materials to finishing the goods and their delivery. In addition, machining involves the shaping of raw materials. 
3. The production aims to cater to the ongoing demand in the market effectively and efficiently. Talking about manufacturing, it focuses on meeting the quality standards of the materials produced and ensuring customer requirements. And machining focuses on providing a designated shape and geometries to achieve high tolerance in the final product.
4. The key activities involved in production are – Planning and strategy, acquiring desired resources, quality control and assurance, etc. For manufacturing, the key activities involved are procurement of raw materials, fabrication process, quality control, testing, packaging, and distribution. And for machining, the key activities are as follows – Cutting, milling, and grinding of materials, shaping the parts, using machines, measurement, and inspection.
5. Production applies to services and goods and may include automotive manufacturing and software development. While manufacturing applies to goods like – machinery, consumer products, electronics, etc. And machining is applicable in industries where specific finished parts or precise shaping is required, for example – in aerospace, engineering, and automotive industry, etc.  

Comparison Between Production and Manufacturing and Machining

Parameter of Comparison	Production	Manufacturing	Machining
Definition	It is defined as the process of making services and goods using various technologies, sources, and human resources.	It is defined as the method through which raw materials are changed into finished goods or services via assembly, fabrication, or processing.	It is a subset of manufacturing that focuses on the removal of material to make a desired product or shape.
Scope	Broad scope as it includes the complete process	Specifically, from acquiring raw materials to finishing the goods and then their delivery	Specifically, as it involves the shaping of raw material
Objective	To cater to the ongoing demand in the market effectively and efficiently	To meet the quality standards of the materials produced and ensure customer requirements	To provide a designated shape and geometries to achieve high tolerance in the final product
Key Activities	Planning and strategy, acquiring desired resources, quality control, assurance, etc.	Procuring raw materials, fabrication process, quality control, testing, packaging, distribution	Cutting, milling, and grinding of materials, shaping the parts, using machines, measurement, and inspection
Application	It is applicable to both services and goods and may include – automotive manufacturing to software development.	Used in goods like – machinery, consumer products, electronics, etc.	Used in industries where specific finished parts or precise shaping is required, for example – in aerospace, engineering, and automotive industry, etc.

References

1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0957417421000397
2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0959652617330743

Last Updated : 22 August, 2023