What is the Difference When it Comes to Manufacturing vs Fabrication?

How Are Manufacturing and Fabrication Different?

While manufacturing and fabrication are often used interchangeably, they actually refer to two distinct processes. Manufacturing involves taking raw materials and converting them into a component or finished product using various methods, such as casting, forging, or machining. On the other hand, fabrication involves assembling pre-made components to create a finished product using methods like welding, bending, or cutting.

A helpful way to remember the difference between the two is to note that fabricators only create items for manufacturing companies to use; for example, fabricators might create a replacement part for a machine in a factory. Manufacturers create goods for consumers to use.

What is sheet metal fabrication?

Sheet metal fabricators create objects and components from raw materials. The sheet metal fabrication process involves techniques like bending, punching, cutting, and welding. Together, fabrication techniques can create parts, assemblies, and chassis for the commercial, electronics, computer, communications, medical, home appliance, retail, industrial, and power-management industries.

What is sheet metal manufacturing?

Sheet metal manufacturing refers to the assembly of metal parts to create a final product, whereas fabrication refers to the creation of those separate metal parts. Our manufacturing process consists of the assembly sheet metal cutting and punching, bending, welding, machining, and powder coating.

Processes of Sheet Metal Manufacturing

Sheet Metal Assembly

Sheet metal assembly consists of different methods deployed by welders to successfully assemble parts into their final products. When it comes to sheet metal assembly, there is no magic solution. Instead, different techniques are used together to create the highest quality product.

Metal Laser Cutting

Sheet metal laser cutting is one of the first steps in the manufacturing process. Laser cutting involves using a specialized laser to cut an array of materials into different shapes and measurements.

Sheet Metal Bending

Sheet metal bending consists of forcing a piece of sheet metal in order to mold it into different shapes and angles. Bending specialists use state-of-the-art equipment and metal bending machinery to meet each customer’s specifications.

Welding

We offer two types of welding: MIG and TIG. Metal Inert Gas welding uses an electrical arc to weld two pieces of metal together. Tungsten Inert Gas uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode to weld different metal materials together.

CNC Machining

CNC machining services use computer technology to direct computerized machines to help in the forming of metal pieces and components. Our machinists leverage advanced technology to create highly customized materials and meet precise specifications.

How Precision Machine Fabrication Can Help

Get in touch with Precision Machine Fabrication today! We handle a variety of sheet metal fabrication projects in the fabrication process and manufacturing processes. We work to your exacting standards to ensure a quality product.