Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing
Description
The concrete block and brick manufacturing sector specializes in producing structural and architectural building materials through industrial processes. Establishments in this field primarily acquire raw materials such as sand, clay, and cement to create standardized units used for foundations, walls, and decorative elements. Typical business activities involve mixing ingredients in large vats, compressing them into specific shapes using hydraulic presses, curing the blocks under controlled conditions, and then sorting and shipping the finished product to construction sites or distribution centers. These operations rely heavily on energy-efficient machinery designed to handle high volumes while maintaining consistent quality. The types of operators range from small family-owned local contractors who focus on custom designs for residential projects to large-scale corporations that operate massive automated plants serving regional markets. Some facilities also produce bricks alongside blocks, offering a diversified range of masonry products under one roof. The scope of this industry is vast, with numerous operators working independently to meet the growing demand for durable and cost-effective building solutions across the United States. Production efficiency is critical, as manufacturers must minimize waste to remain competitive in a price-sensitive market. Many modern plants integrate computerized systems to optimize output and reduce environmental impact. Ultimately, this sector plays a fundamental role in the broader construction industry by supplying essential components that facilitate the rapid development of homes, commercial buildings, and public infrastructure nationwide.
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. |
| 3273 | Cement and Concrete Product Manufacturing 4-digit industry group | This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in one of the following: (1) manufacturing Portland, natural, masonry, pozzolanic, and other hydraulic cements; (2) acting as batch or mixing plants, manufacturing concrete delivered to a purchaser in a plastic and unhardened state; (3) manufacturing concrete pipe, brick, and block; or (4) manufacturing other concrete products (except block, brick, and pipe). |
| 32733 | Concrete Pipe, Brick, and Block Manufacturing 5-digit NAICS industry | This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing concrete pipe, brick, and block. |
| 327331 | Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing 6-digit U.S. detail | The concrete block and brick manufacturing sector specializes in producing structural and architectural building materials through industrial processes. Establishments in this field primarily acquire raw materials such as sand, clay, and cement to create standardized units used for foundations, walls, and decorative elements. Typical business activities involve mixing ingredients in large vats, compressing them into specific shapes using hydraulic presses, curing the blocks under controlled conditions, and then sorting and shipping the finished product to construction sites or distribution centers. These operations rely heavily on energy-efficient machinery designed to handle high volumes while maintaining consistent quality. The types of operators range from small family-owned local contractors who focus on custom designs for residential projects to large-scale corporations that operate massive automated plants serving regional markets. Some facilities also produce bricks alongside blocks, offering a diversified range of masonry products under one roof. The scope of this industry is vast, with numerous operators working independently to meet the growing demand for durable and cost-effective building solutions across the United States. Production efficiency is critical, as manufacturers must minimize waste to remain competitive in a price-sensitive market. Many modern plants integrate computerized systems to optimize output and reduce environmental impact. Ultimately, this sector plays a fundamental role in the broader construction industry by supplying essential components that facilitate the rapid development of homes, commercial buildings, and public infrastructure nationwide. |
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.
Index Items
Architectural block, concrete (e.g., fluted, ground face, screen, slump, split), manufacturing
Blocks, concrete and cinder, manufacturing
Bricks, concrete, manufacturing
Cinder (clinker) block, concrete, manufacturing
Patio block, concrete, manufacturing
Paving blocks, concrete, manufacturing
Plinth blocks, precast terrazzo, manufacturing
Precast concrete block and brick manufacturing
Prestressed concrete blocks or bricks manufacturing
Slumped brick manufacturing
How Item Can Help
Manages inventory of heavy, irregular concrete blocks by automating warehouse layout optimization and real-time stock tracking to prevent production delays.
Optimizes the delivery network for large, weight-restricted loads by calculating the most fuel-efficient routes to reduce transportation costs and improve on-time delivery rates.
Ensures accurate order fulfillment by synchronizing inventory data across multiple distribution centers and dynamically routing orders to the nearest location with available stock.
Item.com Tools
External Resources
Census.gov NAICS Detail
Official US Census Bureau definition and scope for NAICS 327331.
National Association of Homebuilders
Provides industry insights, data, and advocacy resources specifically for home builders using brick and concrete block construction.
USDA NRCS Web Soil Survey
Offers government data on soil suitability, foundation requirements, and regulatory constraints for manufacturing and using concrete and brick products.
Construction Specifications Institute
A leading industry directory providing technical standards, material specifications, and trade reference data for concrete blocks and bricks.
