6-digit U.S. detail
332913
Plumbing Fixture Fitting and Trim Manufacturing
Description
The 332913 industry specializes in the production of specialized components for plumbing systems, focusing on fixtures and trim designed to connect pipes, regulate flow, and complete the aesthetic finish of bathrooms and kitchens. Unlike broad pipe manufacturing, this sector concentrates on intricate items such as faucets, shower valves, floor drains, soap dispensers, and towel bars. Businesses in this field engage in complex fabrication processes that often involve precision machining, die casting, powder coating, and final assembly. Operators range from small family-owned shops utilizing specialized equipment for niche custom work to large corporations producing mass-market goods for major retail chains and building suppliers. Many facilities source raw materials globally, importing steel, brass, or zinc before transforming them into finished products. The manufacturing process demands strict quality control to ensure leak-free performance and durable finishes that meet rigorous consumer expectations. Scale varies significantly, with some entities serving the high-end luxury market while others cater to the cost-sensitive DIY home improvement sector. The economic impact extends beyond the factory floor, influencing supply chain logistics for hardware retailers and construction contractors. This segment remains critical to the plumbing infrastructure of residential and commercial buildings, driving innovation in water conservation technology and accessibility features. The industry continuously adapts to shifting consumer trends toward sustainable materials and smart home integration.
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. |
| 3329 | Other Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing 4-digit industry group | This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing fabricated metal products (except forgings and stampings, cutlery and handtools, architectural and structural metals, boilers, tanks, shipping containers, hardware, spring and wire products, machine shop products, turned products, screws, and nuts and bolts). |
| 33291 | Metal Valve Manufacturing 5-digit NAICS industry | This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing one or more of the following metal valves: (1) industrial valves; (2) fluid power valves and hose fittings; (3) plumbing fixture fittings and trim; and (4) other metal valves and pipe fittings. |
| 332913 | Plumbing Fixture Fitting and Trim Manufacturing 6-digit U.S. detail | The 332913 industry specializes in the production of specialized components for plumbing systems, focusing on fixtures and trim designed to connect pipes, regulate flow, and complete the aesthetic finish of bathrooms and kitchens. Unlike broad pipe manufacturing, this sector concentrates on intricate items such as faucets, shower valves, floor drains, soap dispensers, and towel bars. Businesses in this field engage in complex fabrication processes that often involve precision machining, die casting, powder coating, and final assembly. Operators range from small family-owned shops utilizing specialized equipment for niche custom work to large corporations producing mass-market goods for major retail chains and building suppliers. Many facilities source raw materials globally, importing steel, brass, or zinc before transforming them into finished products. The manufacturing process demands strict quality control to ensure leak-free performance and durable finishes that meet rigorous consumer expectations. Scale varies significantly, with some entities serving the high-end luxury market while others cater to the cost-sensitive DIY home improvement sector. The economic impact extends beyond the factory floor, influencing supply chain logistics for hardware retailers and construction contractors. This segment remains critical to the plumbing infrastructure of residential and commercial buildings, driving innovation in water conservation technology and accessibility features. The industry continuously adapts to shifting consumer trends toward sustainable materials and smart home integration. |
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Classification References
- 01Manufacturing metal shower rods--are classified in U.S. Industry 332999, All Other Miscellaneous Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing; and
- 02Manufacturing fire hose nozzles, lawn hose nozzles, water traps, metal hose couplings (except fluid power), and plumbing and heating inline valves--are classified in U.S. Industry 332919, Other Metal Valve and Pipe Fitting Manufacturing.
Index Items
Antiscald bath and shower valves, plumbing, manufacturing
Backflow preventers, plumbing, manufacturing
Cocks, drain, plumbing, manufacturing
Drain cocks, plumbing, manufacturing
Faucets, plumbing, manufacturing
Flush valves, plumbing, manufacturing
Plumbing fittings and couplings (e.g., compression fittings, metal elbows, metal unions) manufacturing
Plumbing fixture fittings and trim, all materials, manufacturing
Shower heads, plumbing, manufacturing
Spigots, plumbing fixture fitting, manufacturing
Stopcock drains, plumbing, manufacturing
Supply line assemblies, plumbing (i.e., flexible hose with fittings), manufacturing
How Item Can Help
Plans efficient delivery routes for bulky or fragile trim products to minimize shipping costs and avoid damage during transit.
Item.com Tools
External Resources
Census.gov NAICS Detail
Official US Census Bureau definition and scope for NAICS 332913.
American Society of Plumbing Engineers
A professional organization for engineers involved in the design and installation of plumbing systems.
NAICS.gov
The official US Census Bureau page defining manufacturing and installation of plumbing fixture fittings and trim.
Plumbing-Pros.com
An industry directory listing suppliers and manufacturers of plumbing fixture fittings and trim components.
