
Pottery, Ceramics, and Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing
Description
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in shaping, molding, glazing, and firing pottery, ceramics, plumbing fixtures, and electrical supplies made entirely or partly of clay or other ceramic materials. Illustrative Examples: Bathroom accessories, vitreous china and earthenware, manufacturing Ceramic or ferrite permanent magnets manufacturing Chemical stoneware (i.e., pottery products) manufacturing Clay and ceramic statuary manufacturing Earthenware table and kitchen articles, coarse, manufacturing Porcelain electrical insulators manufacturing Vitreous china plumbing fixtures manufacturing
Hierarchy
| Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | Manufacturing 2-digit sector | The Sector as a Whole The Manufacturing sector comprises establishments engaged in the mechanical, physical, or chemical transformation of materials, substances, or components into new products. The assembling of component parts of manufactured products is considered manufacturing, except in cases where the activity is appropriately classified in Sector 23, Construction. Establishments in the Manufacturing sector are often described as plants, factories, or mills and characteristically use power-driven machines and material handling equipment. However, establishments that transform materials or substances into new products by hand or in the worker's home and those engaged in selling to the general public products made on the same premises from which they are sold, such as bakeries, candy stores, and custom tailors, may also be included in this sector. Manufacturing establishments may process materials or may contract with other establishments to process their materials for them. Both types of establishments are included in manufacturing. Selected industries in the Manufacturing sector are comprised solely of establishments that process materials for other establishments on a contract or fee basis. Beyond these dedicated contract manufacturing industries, establishments that process materials for other establishments are generally classified in the Manufacturing industry of the processed materials. The materials, substances, or components transformed by manufacturing establishments are raw materials that are products of agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, or quarrying as well as products of other manufacturing establishments. The materials used may be purchased directly from producers, obtained through customary trade channels, or secured without recourse to the market by transferring the product from one establishment to another, under the same ownership. The new product of a manufacturing establishment may be finished in the sense that it is ready for utilization or consumption, or it may be semi-finished to become an input for an establishment engaged in further manufacturing. For example, the product of the alumina refinery is the input used in the primary production of aluminum; primary aluminum is the input to an aluminum wire drawing plant; and aluminum wire is the input for a fabricated wire product manufacturing establishment. The subsectors in the Manufacturing sector generally reflect distinct production processes related to material inputs, production equipment, and employee skills. In the machinery area, where assembling is a key activity, parts and accessories for manufactured products are classified in the industry of the finished manufactured item when they are made for separate sale. For example, an attachment for a piece of metalworking machinery would be classified with metalworking machinery. However, component inputs from other manufacturing establishments are classified based on the production function of the component manufacturer. For example, electronic components are classified in Subsector 334, Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing, and stampings are classified in Subsector 332, Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing. Manufacturing establishments often perform one or more activities that are classified outside the Manufacturing sector of NAICS. For instance, almost all manufacturing has some captive research and development or administrative operations, such as accounting, payroll, or management. These captive services are treated the same as captive manufacturing activities. When the services are provided by separate establishments, they are classified in the NAICS sector where such services are primary, not in manufacturing. The boundaries of manufacturing and the other sectors of the classification system can be somewhat blurry. The establishments in the Manufacturing sector are engaged in the transformation of materials into new products. Their output is a new product. However, the definition of what constitutes a new product can be somewhat subjective. As clarification, the following activities are considered manufacturing in NAICS: <table width=100%><tr><td width=10%> </td><td><dl><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Milk bottling and pasteurizing;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Water bottling and processing;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Fresh fish packaging (oyster<br/> shucking, fish filleting);</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Apparel jobbing (assigning<br/> materials to contract<br/> factories or shops for<br/> fabrication or other contract<br/> operations) as well as<br/> contracting on materials<br/> owned by others;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Printing and related activities;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Ready-mix concrete production;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Leather converting;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Grinding lenses to<br/> prescription;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Wood preserving;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Lapidary work for the trade;</dt></dl></td><td width=10%> </td><td><dl><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Electroplating, plating, metal<br/> heat treating, and<br/> polishing for the trade;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Fabricating signs and<br/> advertising displays;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Rebuilding or remanufacturing<br/> machinery (i.e., automotive<br/> parts);</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Making manufactured homes<br/> (i.e., mobile homes) or<br/> prefabricated buildings,<br/> whether or not assembling/<br/> erecting at the customers'<br/> site;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Ship repair and renovation;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Machine shops; and</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Tire retreading.</dt></dl></td><td width=10%> </td></tr></table> Conversely, there are activities that are sometimes considered manufacturing, but which for NAICS are classified in another sector (i.e., not classified as manufacturing). They include: 1. Logging, classified in Sector 11, Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting, is considered a harvesting operation; 2. Beneficiating ores and other minerals, classified in Sector 21, Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction, is considered part of the activity of mining; 3. Constructing structures, assembling prefabricated buildings, and fabricating at the construction site by contractors are classified in Sector 23, Construction; 4. Breaking bulk and reselling in smaller lots, including packaging, repackaging, or bottling products, such as liquors or chemicals; assembling and selling computers on a custom basis; sorting and reselling scrap; mixing and selling paints to customer order; and cutting metals to customer order for resale are classified in Sector 42, Wholesale Trade, or Sector 44-45, Retail Trade; and 5. Publishing and the combined activity of publishing and printing, classified in Sector 51, Information, transform information into a product for which the value to the consumer lies in the information content, not in the format in which it is distributed (i.e., the book or software compact disc). |
| 327 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing 3-digit subsector | The Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing subsector is based on the transformation of mined or quarried nonmetallic minerals, such as sand, gravel, stone, clay, and refractory materials, into products for intermediate or final consumption. Processes used include grinding, mixing, cutting, shaping, and honing. Heat often is used in the process and chemicals are frequently mixed to change the composition, purity, and chemical properties for the intended product. For example, glass is produced by heating silica sand to the melting point (sometimes combined with cullet or recycled glass) and then drawn, floated, or blow molded to the desired shape or thickness. Refractory materials are heated and then formed into bricks or other shapes for use in industrial applications. The Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing subsector includes establishments that manufacture bricks, refractories, ceramic products, and glass and glass products, such as plate glass and containers. Also included are cement and concrete products, lime, gypsum, and other nonmetallic mineral products including abrasive products, ceramic plumbing fixtures, statuary, cut stone products, and mineral wool. The products are used in a wide range of activities from construction and heavy and light manufacturing to articles for personal use. Mining, beneficiating, and manufacturing activities often occur in a single location. Separate receipts will be collected for these activities whenever possible. When receipts cannot be broken out between mining and manufacturing, establishments that mine or quarry nonmetallic minerals, beneficiate the nonmetallic minerals, and further process the nonmetallic minerals into a more finished manufactured product are classified based on the primary activity of the establishment. A mine that manufactures a small amount of finished products is classified in Sector 21, Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction. An establishment that mines whose primary output is a more finished manufactured product is classified in the Manufacturing sector. Excluded from the Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing subsector are establishments that primarily beneficiate mined nonmetallic minerals. Beneficiation is the process whereby the extracted material is reduced to particles that can be separated into mineral and waste, the former suitable for further processing or direct use. Beneficiation establishments are included in Sector 21, Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction. |
| 3271 | Clay Product and Refractory Manufacturing 4-digit industry group | This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in (1) shaping, molding, glazing, and firing pottery, ceramics, and plumbing fixtures, and electrical supplies made entirely or partly of clay or other ceramic materials or (2) shaping, molding, baking, burning, or hardening clay refractories, nonclay refractories, ceramic tile, structural clay tile, brick, and other structural clay building materials. |
| 32711 | Pottery, Ceramics, and Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing 5-digit NAICS industry | See industry description for 327110. |
| 327110 | Pottery, Ceramics, and Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing 6-digit U.S. detail | This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in shaping, molding, glazing, and firing pottery, ceramics, plumbing fixtures, and electrical supplies made entirely or partly of clay or other ceramic materials. Illustrative Examples: Bathroom accessories, vitreous china and earthenware, manufacturing Ceramic or ferrite permanent magnets manufacturing Chemical stoneware (i.e., pottery products) manufacturing Clay and ceramic statuary manufacturing Earthenware table and kitchen articles, coarse, manufacturing Porcelain electrical insulators manufacturing Vitreous china plumbing fixtures manufacturing |
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Classification References
- 01Manufacturing enameled iron and steel plumbing fixtures--are classified in U.S. Industry 332999, All Other Miscellaneous Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing;
- 02Manufacturing metal bathroom accessories--are classified in Subsector 332, Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing;
- 03Manufacturing cultured marble and other plastics plumbing fixtures--are classified in U.S. Industry 326191, Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing;
- 04Manufacturing clay building materials, such as ceramic tile, bricks, and clay roofing tiles, and refractories--are classified in Industry 327120, Clay Building Material and Refractories Manufacturing;
- 05Manufacturing ferrite microwave devices and electronic components--are classified in Subsector 334, Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing; and
- 06Manufacturing plastics bathroom accessories--are classified in U.S. Industry 326199, All Other Plastics Product Manufacturing.
Index Items
Advanced and technical ceramic products manufacturing
Alumina porcelain insulators manufacturing
Architectural sculptures, clay, manufacturing
Ashtrays, pottery, manufacturing
Bathroom accessories, vitreous china and earthenware, manufacturing
Beryllia porcelain insulators manufacturing
Bidets, vitreous china, manufacturing
Bone china manufacturing
Chemical stoneware (i.e., pottery products) manufacturing
China cooking ware manufacturing
China tableware, vitreous, manufacturing
Clay and ceramic statuary manufacturing
Cones, pyrometric, earthenware, manufacturing
Cooking ware (e.g., stoneware, coarse earthenware, pottery), manufacturing
Cooking ware, china, manufacturing
Cooking ware, fine earthenware, manufacturing
Crockery manufacturing
Decalcomania on china and glass for the trade
Decorating china (e.g., encrusting gold, silver, other metal on china) for the trade
Dishes, pottery, manufacturing
Drinking fountains, vitreous china, non-refrigerated, manufacturing
Earthenware table and kitchen articles, coarse, manufacturing
Earthenware, commercial and household, semivitreous, manufacturing
Ecclesiastical statuary, clay, manufacturing
Electrical insulators, ceramic, manufacturing
Electrical supplies, ceramic, manufacturing
Faucet handles, vitreous china and earthenware, manufacturing
Filtering media, pottery, manufacturing
Firing china for the trade
Florists' articles, red earthenware, manufacturing
Flower pots, red earthenware, manufacturing
Forms for dipped rubber products, pottery, manufacturing
Garden pottery manufacturing
Handles, faucet, vitreous china and earthenware, manufacturing
Hotel tableware and kitchen articles, vitreous china, manufacturing
Household-type earthenware, semivitreous, manufacturing
Household-type tableware and kitchen articles, vitreous china, manufacturing
Insulators, electrical porcelain, manufacturing
Kitchen articles, coarse earthenware, manufacturing
Kitchenware, commercial and household-type, vitreous china, manufacturing
Kitchenware, semivitreous earthenware, manufacturing
Lamp bases, pottery, manufacturing
Lavatories, vitreous china, manufacturing
Magnets, permanent, ceramic or ferrite, manufacturing
Plumbing fixtures, vitreous china, manufacturing
Porcelain parts, electrical and electronic device, molded, manufacturing
Porcelain, chemical, manufacturing
Pottery made and sold on site
Pottery products manufacturing
Pyrometer tubes manufacturing
Pyrometric cones, earthenware, manufacturing
Sculptures, architectural, clay, manufacturing
Sinks, vitreous china, manufacturing
Soap dishes, vitreous china and earthenware, manufacturing
Spark plug insulators, porcelain, manufacturing
Stationery articles, pottery, manufacturing
Statuary, clay and ceramic, manufacturing
Steatite porcelain insulators manufacturing
Stoneware (i.e., pottery products) manufacturing
Table articles, coarse earthenware, manufacturing
Table articles, earthenware, manufacturing
Table articles, fine earthenware (i.e., whiteware), manufacturing
Table articles, vitreous china, manufacturing
Tableware, vitreous china, manufacturing
Tanks, flush, vitreous china, manufacturing
Textile guides, porcelain, manufacturing
Titania porcelain insulators manufacturing
Toilet fixtures, vitreous china, manufacturing
Towel bar holders, vitreous china and earthenware, manufacturing
Urinals, vitreous china, manufacturing
Vases, pottery (e.g., china, earthenware, stoneware), manufacturing
Water closet bowls, vitreous china, manufacturing
How Item Can Help
Track heavy ceramic and clay inventory while optimizing warehouse space for irregular pottery shapes.
Streamline yard management for trucking fragile plumbing fixtures and large porcelain electrical insulators.
Predict supply chain disruptions for clay raw materials and optimize shipping routes for brittle ceramics.
Item.com Tools
External Resources
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The official US Census Bureau page defining NAICS 327110 and listing its illustrative examples.
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The Bureau of Labor Statistics NAICS Glossary providing detailed definitions and usage guidelines for pottery and ceramics manufacturing codes.
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The US Agency for Governmental procurement page discussing national ceramics technologies and related manufacturing sectors.