Manufacturing industries occupy a very important place among economic activities
of man. Industries which produce both finished and semi-finished products with the
knowledge of technology and skills of man, utilizing the raw materials and other
factors of production are called manufacturing industries. "During this process goods
are produced by using essential raw materials in such a way that a value is attributed to
them, so that they would provide maximum utility".
With the dawn of the Industrial Revolution during the 18th century there was
a revival in the field of industries in many countries of the world. During this
period, certain industries which existed as cottage industries were transformed
into factories producing high quality industrial goods using machinery and new
technological methods.
The Industries Make More Money are
1.Iron and steel industry
2.Automobile industry
3.Ship building industry
4.Electronic industry
5.Cotton textile industry
Iron and Steel Industry 
The iron and steel industry is a very ancient industry. Due to the Industrial
Revolution which began during the latter half of the 18th century, there was an
accelerated development in the iron and steel industry. During the early stages,
though this industry was located in countries where iron ore, coal and limestone
deposits were in abundance, there are also countries where the iron and steel
industry is maintained at a highly developed level using imported raw materials. As
this industry is decisive in determining the technical strength of a country and in
addition as iron and steel are used as a raw material for production of equipment,
this industry has an important position. In this industry, basically iron ore is used to
produce iron. Pig iron is mixed with other metals and seasoned further to produce
steel. During the early stage of the Industrial Revolution, 90% of the raw material
used, for production activities in the fields of machinery, electrical products and
transport, was iron and steel . Later, when aluminium was discovered, the demand
for iron and steel dropped to 65%. Iron and steel industry which is linked to different
economic activities in the world is also important as a base industry for many other
industries.
Features and trends of the Iron and Steel industry
1.Diverse qualitative features of Iron and Steel (durability, capacity to bear
weight, 2.flexibility, ability to withstand shocks, profitable production)
3.Ability to improve quality by mixing with other metals (Aluminum, copper)
4.Ability to recycle after discarding (old iron, scrap iron)
5.All the countries use iron and steel as a base metal for various products.
6.Production activities have become modernized after moving away from
traditional technology.
7.Ability to smelt iron using alternative source of energy. For example; an
electric 8.furnace could be used as an alternative for smelting iron ore.
9.Some countries which were prominent in production of iron and steel in the
past 10.have gradually receded from the market.
11.There is a tendency to locate
industries based on factors
As there is an increase in
demand for steel from East
Asian countries, a new market
has been created (China, South
Korea).
12.With the development of
electronic technology, various
utilities are created.
Certain countries export steel
as well as import steel in
the international trade. (For
example China and South
Korea).
such as capital and availability of a market rather than focusing on factors
such as availability of iron-ore, raw materials and coal.
The Automobile Industry 
The automobile industry in the world is changing fast. Automobiles which are
required for goods and passenger transport are produced by the automobile industry.
Further, at present, the automobile industry is showing a tendency to develop as
an assembling industry as well. Various parts which are essential for a certain
product are manufactured under specialization in different places or countries,
are brought to one place and the final product is manufactured in an assembling
industry. The basis for this system is the division of labour, specialization and
technological advancement.
👉Although the contribution of China towards the production of automobiles
during the early period was low, by 2012 China has become the foremost
automobile producer in the world.
👉Although, The United States of America was the most prominent automobile
producer in 1950, by 2012 the position has changed.
👉Though France was a major producer of automobiles in the period
from 1950 to 2000 the position within the first ten producers was lost after 2010.
👉Asian countries like China, Japan, South Korea, India and Thailand have
shown a fast development in the automobile industry by 2012.
1.It is becoming a fast changing industry.
2.Maximum use of modern technological skills and mechanical labour (robot
technology).
3.Expansion as an assembling industry (like in Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore,
Indonesia).
4.Investment of a large amount of capital.
5.Production Multi-national Corporations very often own the production rights.
1.Designing special automobiles to suit the goods being transported (eg :- fuel,
milk and gas transport bowsers are vehicles that differ from one another).
2.Producing vehicles that could ply both on land and water (hovercraft).
3.Producing vehicles that could dive in water and vehicles which could change
while travelling on land and be air-borne in the form of a light airplane.
4.Factors like cheap labour, availability of raw materials, and the presence of
foreign markets have led to the fast development of the automobile industry
in countries such as Japan, India, South Korea , Singapore and Indonesia.
5.Countries that did not produce automobiles in the past are now contributing
towards this industry (Sri Lanka).
6.Installing special electronic components and equipment (sensor) within the
vehicle to maximize safety and ensure diverse facilities (for example GPS
Technology, radio, television, air-conditioning, refrigerators flexible seats,
automated doors and locks, side mirrors, manoeuvering facilities for the
disabled, automated main lights , automatic starting and safety systems)
.
7.Producing eco-friendly vehicles minimizing environmental pollution.
8.Countries that have developed the automobile industry have started production
factories in other countries.
9.Japan has planned to manufacture mostly light and hybrid vehicles (using
liquid fuel and electricity) after 2020.
10.For the economic use of fuel, there is a tendency to produce smaller vehicles
The Ship building Industry 
The ship building industry which has a long history, progressed simultaneously
with the development of the iron and steel industry and also with the
exploration by the European nations in the latter half of the 18th century.
There were a few factors that contributed to the development of the ship
building industry in Europe.
1.The high demand for ships due to explorations by European nations after
the Renaissance in Europe and for trade, fishing and warfare activities.
2.Availability of timber and steel required for ship building.
3.Availability of indented coasts required to make shipping docks.
4.State patronage
In the early stages, ships were built for transporting both passenger and goods.
But, with the development of air transport the number of passengers using ships
reduced and therefore more attention was directed towards building ships suitable
for transporting goods (Cargo ships). However, even at present ultra luxury ships
specified for transporting passengers are being built. Ship building industry has
undergone several changes and it has gained a huge progress at present.
During the early period, only the developed countries paid attention on the ship
building industry. The reasons being given are follows.
1.The ability to invest a large sum of money as capital.
2.The availability of iron and steel as raw materials.
3.Having a great reputation and experience.
Trends and features in the ship building industry
1.Building special ships to carry passengers or varied commodities.
2.Building large ultra- luxury passenger liners.
3.Building small ultra- luxury yachts according to orders placed.
4.Building ships for various purposes (like warfare, exploration of oceans,
fisheries production factories and libraries).
5.Though iron and steel were used as raw materials in the past, today light
metals and different types of fibre and other substitutes are used to build
lighter sailing vessels.
6.Development as an assembling industry.
7.Utilizing more mechanized labour (robots and machine technology) than
human labour.
8.Changes in the energy sources used in ship building (such as coal, mineral oil
and nuclear power).
9.Newly industrialized countries like China and South Korea have
competed with the traditional ship building countries and come to the forefront.
10.Developed technological systems like the GPS system have been added to the
shipping sector.
11.Though ships were used more for passenger transport in the past, they are
used mostly for transporting goods at present.
12.There is a rising demand for oil tankers, bulk carriers and container transport
liners.
The Electronic Industry
Manufacture of commodities like radio, television sets, computers, transistors,
communication equipment and electronic equipment come under the production
of electronic goods. 
China has emerged as a powerful country in the Asian region in the field of electronic
industry, within the period of 2000 – 2010. The income of china has risen from
RMB billions 604 to RMB billions 6362 with the continuous development of the
electronic industry during this period.
Features and trends of the electronic industry
1.A large amount of capital has been invested.
2.Research continues till the final product is brought out and twice the amount
of money is spent on production research linked to the industry rather than on
the production itself.
3.Most of the workers include scientists, engineers, skilled technicians, and
research personnel.
4.Half the personnel in the service industry are engaged in the fields of research
and development.
5.Contribution to the production and ownership mostly belong to Multi-national
Corporations.
6.Day by day, new products are launched to meet the competitive market.
(For example- mobile phones, television sets and cameras)
7.Very complex subtle equipment and appliances are produced (Video
equipment, chips and cameras)
8.The same countries that export electronic appliances also import the same
products from other countries.
9.Maintained as an assembling industry.
10.In addition to the production and trade of electronic equipment, a market
for by- products too has been created . (For example- creation of virus for
computers, virus guard systems and the necessity to update those systems,
magnetic disks, magnetic discs like CDs and DVDs)
The Cotton Textile Industry
With the ‘Industrial Revolution’ which occurred in Europe during the 18th century,
production of cotton textiles, expanded as a formal and organized industry. At
that time, Britain gained a monopoly over this industry. However later, the cotton
textile industry expanded in countries like China, India, Japan and Egypt due to the
following factors,
1.Possibility of growing cotton easily.
2.Possibility of importing cotton from other countries.
3.Availability of cheap labour.
4.Presence of modern technology.
5.Availability of the market.
The features and trends of the cotton textile industry
1.The cotton textile industry has a long history.
2.Maintained on agro-based material.
3.Though in the past, the cotton textile industry was carried out by importing raw
material from cotton growing countries, at present cotton growing countries
too have entered the industry.
4.Though European countries were the pioneers of cotton textile producers in
the past, by the second half of the 21st century, East Asian countries too have
emerged as foremost producers.
5.As the cotton textile industry has become fully mechanized, high quality
textiles are being produced.
6.Diverse textiles of high quality are produced by mixing cotton with other
fibres (synthetic-fiber, wool and flax).
7.Being an eco-friendly production.
8.The emergence of a by-product industry which includes dyeing of textiles and
production of garments.
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