Different Ways Of Getting Paid

A Guide to Different Types of Manufacturing Industries in the U.S.

CC0/enriquelopezgarre/Pixabay

As of 2018, the United States is the second-largest manufacturing country in the world, but forecasts show that by 2023, it could become number one, beating out China, the current leader. As of 2017, around 12.4 million people work in the manufacturing sector in the United States, and each one of those jobs creates two more jobs outside of manufacturing. In other words, it's a big industry that plays a major role in the American economy. Take a look at some of the 21 subsectors of manufacturing within the US:

1. Food, Beverage and Tobacco Manufacturing

The Bureau of Labor Statistics considers food to be one of the major subsectors of American manufacturing. The bulk of it involves turning raw animal and vegetable materials from the agriculture sector into foods for consumers. People who work in this area may be bakers, slaughterers, food batchmakers, line supervisors and meat packers. The food sector can be broken down even further into subgroups, like animal food, dairy products, sugar and confectionary, seafood and animal slaughtering and processing.

Beverage and tobacco manufacturing are grouped together into another subsector. Beverage manufacturing is generally broken down even further into alcoholic, non-alcoholic and distilled alcoholic, while tobacco is broken down into plants that redry and stem tobacco and plants that make products like cigarettes and cigars.

2. Textiles, Apparel and Leather

Textiles, apparel and leather make up four of the 21 subsectors of manufacturing. Textile manufacturing is broken down into three groups. The first, textiles mills, turn natural and synthetic fibers, like cotton, into products like yarn and fabric. Some of those products then go on to textile products mills where they'll become items like sheets and towels. Other textiles go to the apparel sector where they're turned into garments for consumers to wear. People who work in this subsector may operate or supervise sewing machines, knitting machines, weaving machines and cutting machines. Those who work in the leather subsector tan and cure the leather so it can be turned into shoes, purses and other consumer products.

3. Wood, Paper and Printing

Wood, paper and printing are three unique subsectors, even though some of their processes may overlap. Wood employees, like carpenters, sawing machine setters and woodworking machine setters, may produce everything from lumber to wooden products, like cabinets. Paper manufacturing is usually divided into three groups: manufacturing pulp, manufacturing paper sheets from the pulp, and turning sheets of paper into paper products. Employees that work in plants that turn paper into products may also perform jobs like cutting, coating and laminating. The printing subsector is involved in creating products like books, newspapers, labels and stationary as well as support fields, like binding books and data imaging.

4. Petroleum, Coal, Plastics, Rubber and Chemicals

Petroleum and coal manufacturing fall together into one subsector. These plants use processes like cracking and distilling to turn coal and petroleum into products, and they produce products that are made from these refined materials, such as lubricant oils created from the naturally occurring oils found in petroleum.

Chemical manufacturing is one of the broadest subsectors, and it can be broken down even further into many subgroups, like soap, pesticide, paint, and pharmaceutical manufacturing. It employees chemists and other professionals who turn synthetic and natural materials into products consumers depend on daily.

Plastics and rubber are grouped together into the same subsector by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, though it's highly unusual to find a manufacturing plant or company that produces both. The bulk of these plants produce consumer products and specialize in one material or the other, though plastic is overtaking rubber in many areas.

5. Metal and Nonmetallic Minerals

Metal-related manufacturing can be broken down into two subsectors: primary metal manufacturing and fabricated metal product manufacturing. Iron mills, steel mills, steel product manufacturing plants, aluminum production plants and foundries all fall under the primary metal manufacturing category. They smelt and refine metals, manufacture alloys and produce basic metal products, like sheeting, wiring and rods. Fabricated metal product manufacturing includes many more subgroups and involves turning metal into products used in architecture, cutlery, hand tools, hardware, boilers, tanks, shipping containers, nuts, nails, bolts and more. Plants that provide services like stamping, coating, engraving, heat treating and forging also fall under this subsector. Nonmetallic mineral manufacturing involves turning quarried minerals into products like clay, glass and concrete.

6. All Other Subsectors

While those are some of the most noteworthy subsectors of the manufacturing industry in the United States, there are still several more worth mentioning. They include:

Machine — This subsector manufactures machines for industries like agriculture, construction and commercial service. It may also manufacture equipment for commercial refrigeration, ventilation, engine, turbine and power transmission.
Computer and Electronic Products — This subsector creates computer, audio, visual, communications, optical media, semiconductor and navigational equipment.
Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component — Production of lighting, electrical equipment and household appliances fall under this category.
Transportation Manufacturing — Companies in this subsector produce all types of motor vehicles, aerospace products, ships, boats and railroad rolling stock.
Furniture — This subsector manufactures furniture for residential and commercial use as well as institutional furniture and cabinetry.
Miscellaneous — Anything else not included in the other subsectors falls into the miscellaneous category, including items like medical equipment, toys and jewelry.