SSIC Section C – Manufacturing

Companies in this section turn materials, substances or parts into new products, by physical, chemical or biological processes.

The inputs can be raw materials from farms, forests, fisheries, mines and quarries, or products from other factories. The output can be ready to use or sell, or it can be a part-finished product that another factory processes further. The assembly of products from parts, whether the company makes the parts or buys them, also counts as manufacturing. So does the major rebuilding or remanufacture of goods, and the specialised installation, maintenance and repair of industrial machinery and equipment.

The section also includes factoryless goods producers. These companies pay other firms to do the physical work, but they still control the production and supply the key intellectual property, such as the design. A company that only buys finished goods from a manufacturer to resell them is classified in wholesale or retail trade, not here. Some activities that change materials are also classified elsewhere, for example waste recovery, food preparation for meals on the premises, and the cutting, mixing or repacking of goods to customer order by traders.

Commonly registered businesses

• Shipyards building and repairing ships, tankers, barges and offshore structures (30110)
• Installers of industrial machinery, machine riggers and mechanical engineers (28300)
• Bakeries making bread, cakes and pastries, including bakery shops (10712)
• Makers of wooden furniture, cabinets and shop fixtures, including upholstery (31001)
• Commercial printers, such as brochures, labels and digital printing (18112)
• Other manufacturers, such as safety gear, brushes, badges and 3D printing (32909)