Machine Tool Manufacturing
Description
This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in (1) manufacturing metal cutting machine tools (except handtools) and/or (2) manufacturing metal forming machine tools (except handtools), such as punching, sheering, bending, forming, pressing, forging and die-casting machines. Illustrative Examples: Bending and forming machines, metalworking, manufacturing Buffing and polishing machines, metalworking, manufacturing Drilling machines, metalworking, manufacturing Grinding machines, metalworking, manufacturing Home workshop metal cutting machine tools (except handtools, welding equipment) manufacturing Metalworking lathes manufacturing Milling machines, metalworking, manufacturing Stamping machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Hierarchy
| Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 33 | 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). |
| 333 | Machinery Manufacturing 3-digit subsector | Industries in the Machinery Manufacturing subsector create end products that apply mechanical force, for example, the application of gears and levers, to perform work. Some important processes for the manufacture of machinery are forging, stamping, bending, forming, and machining that are used to shape individual pieces of metal. Processes, such as welding and assembling are used to join separate parts together. Although these processes are similar to those used in metal fabricating establishments, machinery manufacturing is different because it typically employs multiple metal forming processes in manufacturing the various parts of the machine. Moreover, complex assembly operations are an inherent part of the production process. In general, design considerations are very important in machinery production. Establishments specialize in making machinery designed for particular applications. Thus, design is considered to be part of the production process for the purpose of implementing NAICS. The NAICS structure reflects this by defining industries and industry groups that make machinery for different applications. A broad distinction exists between machinery that is generally used in a variety of industrial applications (i.e., general purpose machinery) and machinery that is designed to be used in a particular industry (i.e., special purpose machinery). Three industry groups consist of special purpose machinery--Agriculture, Construction, and Mining Machinery Manufacturing; Industrial Machinery Manufacturing; and Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing. The other industry groups make general purpose machinery: Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing; Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing; Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing; and Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing. |
| 3335 | Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing 4-digit industry group | Industries in the Machinery Manufacturing subsector create end products that apply mechanical force, for example, the application of gears and levers, to perform work. Some important processes for the manufacture of machinery are forging, stamping, bending, forming, and machining that are used to shape individual pieces of metal. Processes, such as welding and assembling are used to join separate parts together. Although these processes are similar to those used in metal fabricating establishments, machinery manufacturing is different because it typically employs multiple metal forming processes in manufacturing the various parts of the machine. Moreover, complex assembly operations are an inherent part of the production process. In general, design considerations are very important in machinery production. Establishments specialize in making machinery designed for particular applications. Thus, design is considered to be part of the production process for the purpose of implementing NAICS. The NAICS structure reflects this by defining industries and industry groups that make machinery for different applications. A broad distinction exists between machinery that is generally used in a variety of industrial applications (i.e., general purpose machinery) and machinery that is designed to be used in a particular industry (i.e., special purpose machinery). Three industry groups consist of special purpose machinery--Agriculture, Construction, and Mining Machinery Manufacturing; Industrial Machinery Manufacturing; and Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing. The other industry groups make general purpose machinery: Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing; Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing; Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing; and Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing. |
| 33351 | Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing 5-digit NAICS industry | This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing metalworking machinery, such as metal cutting and metal forming machine tools; cutting tools; accessories for metalworking machinery; special dies, tools, jigs, and fixtures; industrial molds; rolling mill machinery; assembly machinery; coil handling, conversion, or straightening equipment; and wire drawing and fabricating machines. |
| 333517 | Machine Tool Manufacturing 6-digit U.S. detail | This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in (1) manufacturing metal cutting machine tools (except handtools) and/or (2) manufacturing metal forming machine tools (except handtools), such as punching, sheering, bending, forming, pressing, forging and die-casting machines. Illustrative Examples: Bending and forming machines, metalworking, manufacturing Buffing and polishing machines, metalworking, manufacturing Drilling machines, metalworking, manufacturing Grinding machines, metalworking, manufacturing Home workshop metal cutting machine tools (except handtools, welding equipment) manufacturing Metalworking lathes manufacturing Milling machines, metalworking, manufacturing Stamping machines, metalworking, manufacturing |
Need a supply chain stack that maps to this industry?
Use this NAICS classification as the starting point, then connect it to Item workflows across inventory, warehousing, order management, fulfillment, and transportation.
Classification References
- 01Manufacturing welding and soldering equipment--are classified in U.S. Industry 333992, Welding and Soldering Equipment Manufacturing;
- 02Manufacturing power-driven handtools--are classified in U.S. Industry 333991, Power-Driven Handtool Manufacturing;
- 03Manufacturing rolling mill machinery and equipment--are classified in U.S. Industry 333519, Rolling Mill and Other Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing; and
- 04Manufacturing accessories and attachments for metal cutting and forming machine tools (except saw blades)--are classified in U.S. Industry 333515, Cutting Tool and Machine Tool Accessory Manufacturing.
Index Items
Arbor presses, metalworking, manufacturing
Automatic screw machines, metal cutting type, manufacturing
Beader machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Bending and forming machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Boring machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Boring, drilling, and milling machine combinations, metalworking, manufacturing
Brakes, press, metalworking, manufacturing
Broaching machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Brushing machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Buffing and polishing machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Burnishing machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Can forming machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Centering machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Chamfering machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Chemical milling machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Chucking machines, automatic, metalworking, manufacturing
Crankshaft grinding machines metal cutting type, manufacturing
Custom roll forming machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Cut-off machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Cutting machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Cylinder boring machines metal cutting type, manufacturing
Deburring machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Die sinking machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Die-casting machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Drill presses, metalworking, manufacturing
Drilling machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Drop hammers, metal forging and shaping, manufacturing
Duplicating machines (e.g., key cutting), metalworking, manufacturing
Electrochemical milling machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Electrode discharge metal cutting machines manufacturing
Electrolytic metal cutting machines manufacturing
Electron-discharge metal cutting machines manufacturing
Extruding machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Facing machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Filing machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Flange facing machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Forging machinery and hammers manufacturing
Forming machines (except drawing), metalworking, manufacturing
Gear cutting and finishing machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Gear rolling machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Grinding machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Home workshop metal cutting machine tools (except handtools, welding equipment) manufacturing
Honing and lapping machines, metal cutting type, manufacturing
Key cutting machines, metal cutting type, manufacturing
Knurling machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Laser boring, drilling, and cutting machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Lathes, metalworking, manufacturing
Machine tools, metal cutting, manufacturing
Machine tools, metal forming, manufacturing
Magnetic forming machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Metal cutting machine tools manufacturing
Metal deposit forming machines manufacturing
Metal forming machine tools manufacturing
Metalworking lathes manufacturing
Milling machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Nail heading machines manufacturing
Numerically controlled metal cutting machine tools manufacturing
Pipe cutting and threading machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Planers, metalworking, manufacturing
Plasma jet spray metal forming machines manufacturing
Plasma process metal cutting machines (except welding equipment) manufacturing
Polishing and buffing machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Powder metal forming presses manufacturing
Press brakes, metalworking, manufacturing
Presses (e.g., bending, punching, shearing, stamping), metal forming, manufacturing
Punching machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Reaming machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Rifling machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Riveting machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Sawing machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Screw and nut slotting machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Shaving machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Shearing machines, metal forming, manufacturing
Sheet metal forming machines manufacturing
Slotting machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Spinning machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Spline rolling machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Spring winding and forming machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Stamping machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Stretching machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Swaging machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Tapping machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Thread rolling machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Threading machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Turning machines (i.e., lathes), metalworking, manufacturing
Turret lathes, metalworking, manufacturing
Ultrasonic boring, drilling, and cutting machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Ultrasonic metal forming machines manufacturing
Upsetters (i.e., forging machines) manufacturing
Valve grinding machines, metalworking, manufacturing
How Item Can Help
Manages complex parts inventory across multiple manufacturing facilities to ensure raw materials like steel, aluminum, and hydraulic components are available just-in-time for production lines.
Optimizes the delivery of heavy machinery and large equipment to distribution centers, reducing shipping costs and on-time delivery rates for high-value customer orders.
Predicts maintenance needs for precision cutting machines and lathes by analyzing operational data, minimizing downtime during critical production cycles.
Item.com Tools
External Resources
Census.gov NAICS Detail
Official US Census Bureau definition and scope for NAICS 333517.
American Iron and Steel Institute
Provides access to national technical standards specifically for machine tool manufacturing.
National Association of Fabricators and Fabrication Contractors
Offers resources and industry news related to the design and production of heavy machine tools.
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Provides a reference database on manufacturing technology focusing on the development of advanced machine tools.
