Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional Electric Lighting Fixture Manufacturing
Description
Establishments within this sector specialize in creating specialized illumination systems designed for high-traffic commercial venues, large-scale industrial facilities, and institutional buildings. Unlike standard residential fixtures, these manufacturers produce complex units capable of handling intense heat, heavy loads, and demanding environmental conditions found in airports, hospitals, factories, and shopping malls. Typical business activities involve the design, prototyping, assembly, and testing of durable lighting equipment that often integrates advanced control systems, smart technology, and energy-efficient components. Operators are typically medium-sized to large-scale factories equipped with precision machinery to fabricate housings, sockets, ballasts, and driver electronics from raw materials like metal, glass, and plastic. The industry plays a critical role in the broader electrical equipment market by supplying the essential hardware that ensures visibility and safety in public and professional spaces. These facilities often employ skilled technicians and engineers to manage production lines and ensure regulatory compliance for both indoor and outdoor applications. The scale of operations varies, with some companies focusing on niche architectural lighting while others dominate mass production for general-purpose industrial use. Ultimately, this sector drives innovation in lighting technology, delivering solutions that meet stringent durability standards while reducing operational energy costs for major business entities across the United States.
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). |
| 335 | Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing 3-digit subsector | Industries in the Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing subsector manufacture products that generate, distribute, and use electrical power. Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing establishments produce lighting fixtures, electric light bulbs, and parts (except glass parts and light emitting diodes (LEDs)), and other lighting equipment. Household Appliance Manufacturing establishments make both small and major electrical appliances and parts. Electrical Equipment Manufacturing establishments make goods, such as electric motors, generators, transformers, and switchgear apparatus. Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing establishments make devices for storing electrical power (e.g., batteries), for transmitting electricity (e.g., insulated wire), and wiring devices (e.g., electrical outlets, fuse boxes, and light switches). |
| 3351 | Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing 4-digit industry group | Industries in the Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing subsector manufacture products that generate, distribute, and use electrical power. Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing establishments produce lighting fixtures, electric light bulbs, and parts (except glass parts and light emitting diodes (LEDs)), and other lighting equipment. Household Appliance Manufacturing establishments make both small and major electrical appliances and parts. Electrical Equipment Manufacturing establishments make goods, such as electric motors, generators, transformers, and switchgear apparatus. Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing establishments make devices for storing electrical power (e.g., batteries), for transmitting electricity (e.g., insulated wire), and wiring devices (e.g., electrical outlets, fuse boxes, and light switches). |
| 33513 | Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing 5-digit NAICS industry | This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing electric lighting fixtures (except vehicular), nonelectric lighting equipment, lamp shades (except glass and plastics), electric light bulbs, tubes, and parts (except glass blanks for electric light bulbs and light emitting diodes (LEDs)), and lighting fixture components (except current-carrying wiring devices). |
| 335132 | Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional Electric Lighting Fixture Manufacturing 6-digit U.S. detail | Establishments within this sector specialize in creating specialized illumination systems designed for high-traffic commercial venues, large-scale industrial facilities, and institutional buildings. Unlike standard residential fixtures, these manufacturers produce complex units capable of handling intense heat, heavy loads, and demanding environmental conditions found in airports, hospitals, factories, and shopping malls. Typical business activities involve the design, prototyping, assembly, and testing of durable lighting equipment that often integrates advanced control systems, smart technology, and energy-efficient components. Operators are typically medium-sized to large-scale factories equipped with precision machinery to fabricate housings, sockets, ballasts, and driver electronics from raw materials like metal, glass, and plastic. The industry plays a critical role in the broader electrical equipment market by supplying the essential hardware that ensures visibility and safety in public and professional spaces. These facilities often employ skilled technicians and engineers to manage production lines and ensure regulatory compliance for both indoor and outdoor applications. The scale of operations varies, with some companies focusing on niche architectural lighting while others dominate mass production for general-purpose industrial use. Ultimately, this sector drives innovation in lighting technology, delivering solutions that meet stringent durability standards while reducing operational energy costs for major business entities across the United States. |
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Classification References
- 01Manufacturing glassware and glass parts for commercial, industrial, and institutional electric lighting fixtures, including glass blanks for electric light bulbs--are classified in Industry 32721, Glass and Glass Product Manufacturing;
- 02Manufacturing residential electric lighting fixtures--are classified in U.S. Industry 335131, Residential Electric Lighting Fixture Manufacturing;
- 03Manufacturing current-carrying wiring devices for lighting fixtures--are classified in U.S. Industry 335931, Current-Carrying Wiring Device Manufacturing;
- 04Manufacturing vehicular lighting fixtures--are classified in Industry 336320, Motor Vehicle Electrical and Electronic Equipment Manufacturing;
- 05Manufacturing electric light bulbs, tubes, and parts (except glass parts and light emitting diodes (LEDs)), and other lighting fixtures, such as street lights (except traffic signals), flashlights, and nonelectric lighting equipment--are classified in U.S. Industry 335139, Electric Lamp Bulb and Other Lighting Equipment Manufacturing;
- 06Manufacturing light emitting diodes (LEDs)--are classified in U.S. Industry 334413, Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing; and
- 07Manufacturing signaling devices that incorporate electric light bulbs, such as traffic and railway signals--are classified in Industry 334290, Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing.
Index Items
Ceiling lighting fixtures, commercial, industrial, and institutional, manufacturing
Chandeliers, commercial, industrial, and institutional electric, manufacturing
Commercial lighting fixtures, electric, manufacturing
Desk lamps, commercial, electric, manufacturing
Emergency lighting (i.e., battery backup) manufacturing
Fluorescent lighting fixtures, commercial, institutional, and industrial electric, manufacturing
Grow light fixtures (except residential) manufacturing
Illuminated indoor lighting fixtures (e.g., directional, exit) manufacturing
Industrial lighting fixtures, electric, manufacturing
Industrial mercury lighting fixtures, electric, manufacturing
Institutional lighting fixtures, electric, manufacturing
Lamps (i.e., lighting fixtures), commercial, industrial, and institutional, manufacturing
Lighting fixtures, commercial electric, manufacturing
Lighting fixtures, industrial electric, manufacturing
Lighting fixtures, institutional electric, manufacturing
Luminous panel ceilings, electric, manufacturing
Pendant lamps (except residential), electric, manufacturing
Recessed lighting housings and trim (except residential), electric, manufacturing
Solar lighting fixtures (except residential), electric, manufacturing
Wall lamps (i.e., lighting fixtures), commercial, institutional, and industrial electric, manufacturing
How Item Can Help
WMS optimizes warehouse operations by managing complex inventory of various lighting fixtures, automating pick-and-pack efficiency for retail orders, and reducing errors in high-volume manufacturing distribution.
OMS integrates sales channels to synchronize inventory levels in real time, ensuring accurate order fulfillment across retail, B2B, and wholesale customers while minimizing stockouts.
TMS streamlines logistics by planning optimal routes and carrier selection for shipping heavy lighting fixtures, thereby lowering freight costs and delivering faster to industrial and institutional clients.
External Resources
Census.gov NAICS Detail
Official US Census Bureau definition and scope for NAICS 335132.
National Lighting Association
The primary trade association representing the lighting and lighting control industry.
US Department of Energy - EnergyStar
A government portal listing qualified commercial and industrial lighting products with energy efficiency ratings.
NCH Lighting Association Directory
A directory managed by NCH for commercial lighting professionals and manufacturers.
