6-digit U.S. detail
332510
Hardware Manufacturing
Description
Establishments classified under this code are dedicated to the production of hardware made from metal, focusing on components that facilitate the securing, operating, or moving of machinery and buildings. Their primary work involves melting, forming, cutting, and assembling various metal alloys to create durable items like door hinges, cabinet handles, key blanks, and mechanical locks. The manufacturing process relies heavily on heavy machinery and precision tools to ensure parts meet strict functional and safety standards required for industrial and residential applications. Typical operations include raw material procurement, sheet metal fabrication, precision casting, and final assembly, often involving welding and heat treatment. Operators in this sector range from independent small workshops employing a handful of workers to large industrial complexes utilizing advanced automation and robotics. Many facilities specialize in a specific product line, allowing for deep technical expertise, while others serve as distribution hubs offering custom manufacturing services to contractors and commercial developers. The scope of production extends from standard mass-produced items to specialized heavy-duty components for construction and automotive industries. This sector remains critical to the broader fabricated metal products landscape, supplying essential components that enhance security, functionality, and safety across a wide variety of markets without including coin or card-operated devices.
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). |
| 332 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing 3-digit subsector | Industries in the Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing subsector transform metal into intermediate or end products, other than machinery, computers and electronics, and metal furniture, or treat metals and metal formed products fabricated elsewhere. Important fabricated metal processes are forging, stamping, bending, forming, and machining, used to shape individual pieces of metal; and other processes, such as welding and assembling, used to join separate parts together. Establishments in this subsector may use one of these processes or a combination of these processes. The NAICS structure for this subsector distinguishes the forging and stamping processes in a single industry. The remaining industries in the subsector group establishments based on similar combinations of processes used to make products. The manufacturing performed in the Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing subsector begins with manufactured metal shapes. The establishments in this subsector further fabricate the purchased metal shapes into a product. For instance, the Spring and Wire Product Manufacturing industry starts with wire and fabricates such items. Within the Manufacturing sector there are other establishments that make the same products made by this subsector; only these establishments begin production further back in the production process. These establishments have a more integrated operation. For instance, one establishment may manufacture steel, draw it into wire, and make wire products in the same establishment. Such operations are classified in the Primary Metal Manufacturing subsector. |
| 3325 | Hardware Manufacturing 4-digit industry group | Industries in the Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing subsector transform metal into intermediate or end products, other than machinery, computers and electronics, and metal furniture, or treat metals and metal formed products fabricated elsewhere. Important fabricated metal processes are forging, stamping, bending, forming, and machining, used to shape individual pieces of metal; and other processes, such as welding and assembling, used to join separate parts together. Establishments in this subsector may use one of these processes or a combination of these processes. The NAICS structure for this subsector distinguishes the forging and stamping processes in a single industry. The remaining industries in the subsector group establishments based on similar combinations of processes used to make products. The manufacturing performed in the Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing subsector begins with manufactured metal shapes. The establishments in this subsector further fabricate the purchased metal shapes into a product. For instance, the Spring and Wire Product Manufacturing industry starts with wire and fabricates such items. Within the Manufacturing sector there are other establishments that make the same products made by this subsector; only these establishments begin production further back in the production process. These establishments have a more integrated operation. For instance, one establishment may manufacture steel, draw it into wire, and make wire products in the same establishment. Such operations are classified in the Primary Metal Manufacturing subsector. |
| 33251 | Hardware Manufacturing 5-digit NAICS industry | See industry description for 332510. |
| 332510 | Hardware Manufacturing 6-digit U.S. detail | Establishments classified under this code are dedicated to the production of hardware made from metal, focusing on components that facilitate the securing, operating, or moving of machinery and buildings. Their primary work involves melting, forming, cutting, and assembling various metal alloys to create durable items like door hinges, cabinet handles, key blanks, and mechanical locks. The manufacturing process relies heavily on heavy machinery and precision tools to ensure parts meet strict functional and safety standards required for industrial and residential applications. Typical operations include raw material procurement, sheet metal fabrication, precision casting, and final assembly, often involving welding and heat treatment. Operators in this sector range from independent small workshops employing a handful of workers to large industrial complexes utilizing advanced automation and robotics. Many facilities specialize in a specific product line, allowing for deep technical expertise, while others serve as distribution hubs offering custom manufacturing services to contractors and commercial developers. The scope of production extends from standard mass-produced items to specialized heavy-duty components for construction and automotive industries. This sector remains critical to the broader fabricated metal products landscape, supplying essential components that enhance security, functionality, and safety across a wide variety of markets without including coin or card-operated devices. |
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Classification References
- 01Manufacturing bolts, nuts, screws, rivets, washers, hose clamps, and turnbuckles--are classified in U.S. Industry 332722, Bolt, Nut, Screw, Rivet, and Washer Manufacturing;
- 02Manufacturing nails and spikes from wire drawn elsewhere--are classified in U.S. Industry 332618, Other Fabricated Wire Product Manufacturing;
- 03Manufacturing metal furniture parts (except hardware)--are classified in U.S. Industry 337215, Showcase, Partition, Shelving, and Locker Manufacturing;
- 04Drawing wire and manufacturing nails and spikes--are classified in Subsector 331, Primary Metal Manufacturing;
- 05Manufacturing pole line and transmission hardware--are classified in U.S. Industry 335932, Noncurrent-Carrying Wiring Device Manufacturing;
- 06Manufacturing coin- or card-operated locking mechanisms--are classified in Industry 333310, Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing;
- 07Manufacturing time locks--are classified in U.S. Industry 334519, Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing;
- 08Manufacturing fireplace fixtures and equipment, traps, handcuffs and leg irons, ladder jacks, and other like metal products--are classified in U.S. Industry 332999, All Other Miscellaneous Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing;
- 09Manufacturing fire hose nozzles and metal hose couplings (except fluid power)--are classified in U.S. Industry 332919, Other Metal Valve and Pipe Fitting Manufacturing; and
- 10Manufacturing automotive luggage racks and utility racks--are classified in Industry 336390, Other Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing.
Index Items
Aircraft hardware, metal, manufacturing
Appliance hardware, metal, manufacturing
Automobile hardware, metal, manufacturing
Brackets (i.e., builder's hardware-type), metal, manufacturing
Builder's hardware, metal, manufacturing
Cabinet hardware, metal, manufacturing
Casket hardware, metal, manufacturing
Casters, furniture, metal manufacturing
Casters, industrial, metal, manufacturing
Dead bolts, metal, manufacturing
Door locks, metal, manufacturing
Door opening and closing devices (except electrical), metal, manufacturing
Furniture hardware, metal, manufacturing
Gun trigger locks, metal, manufacturing
Hinges, metal, manufacturing
Key blanks, metal, manufacturing
Locks (except coin- or card-operated, time locks), metal, manufacturing
Luggage hardware, metal, manufacturing
Marine hardware, metal, manufacturing
Motor vehicle hardware, metal, manufacturing
Padlocks, metal, manufacturing
Piano hardware, metal, manufacturing
Suitcase hardware, metal, manufacturing
How Item Can Help
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External Resources
Official NAICS Definition
The Census Bureau page defining NAICS code 332510 as establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing metal hardware.
BLS Manufacturing Data
The Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics page showing job data for hardware manufacturing workers.
SBA Industry Classification
The Small Business Administration page listing NAICS classifications and providing a glossary of hardware manufacturing terms.
