What is fabrication, what does it have to do with manufacturing?
Fabrication has a great deal to do with manufacturing. Fabrication is an industrial term that refers to the manipulation of raw materials (such as steel) for the making of machines and structures. Steel and other metals are cut and shaped during the fabrication process. Fabrication is a very hands-on part of the manufacturing process. Although a fabrication shop and a manufacturing plant can work independently, it is unlikely that you will find a manufacturing establishment that does not at least have close ties to a fabrication shop. Most manufacturers have fabricators in-house simply because of the frequency that most manufacturing processes need the services of a fabrication shop. Typical projects for fabricators include making structural frames for buildings and other heavy equipment. Fabrication shops will also make loose parts. Fabricators are often vital in the initial stages of building up a manufacturing plant. Their services are needed to build the parts of a working system a
