The phrase “industrial materials” serves as a comprehensive and inclusive label, aiming to classify any raw material utilized in the creation, manufacturing, production, or assembly of a service or product. Despite its wide-ranging and general scope, this term encompasses a diverse array of materials essential to the manufacturing of various items or products.
Although “industrial materials” is a broad and all-encompassing term, the entities it denotes can be grouped into four categories, two of which involve consumables and materials intended for transformation into other products. Consumables include items like fuel, various liquids, and water, serving as resources utilized in the manufacturing process but not integrated into the final product. Raw materials adaptable for reshaping or reconfiguration to serve as components of larger devices fall into the category of industrial materials convertible into other products.
Consumables, such as energy sources (electrical, fossil fuel, gas, etc.), are essential yet unseen components of the final product vital for the production process. Conversely, raw materials that become integral components of the final product influence its quality, utility, and proper functionality. This category encompasses an extensive range of raw materials, including minerals, metals, and ores.
Industrial materials convertible into diverse shapes and forms typically consist of individual pieces, such as brackets, or components of larger devices. Their adaptability and configurability make them suitable for creating practical and functional products, fostering innovation in the process.
Beyond the groups of industrial materials used for fabricating other products, the third category includes both products and consumables, referred to as organic natural resources. This category involves animals cultivated for food, crops, and textiles, assuming various forms and functions as either end products or components processed before reaching that stage. For instance, trees serve dual purposes as fuel and building materials.
Another aspect of industrial materials involves those manually processed for use in creating other products. This category includes mined and refined minerals like aluminum, employed in the production of various devices and equipment. Industries falling into this category exist to convert raw natural minerals into industrial materials for use in manufacturing commercial and industrial products.
While “industrial materials” is a broad term encompassing materials used in creating everyday items, it can be systematically classified into four groups: supplies, convertible materials, organic resources, and refinable minerals. This classification aids in gaining a clearer understanding of the origins and utilization of industrial materials, providing insights into industrial, manufacturing, and production processes.
