Manufacturers in the construction industry
A manufacturer is an organisation or business that produces goods to sell them to a customer. Manufacturers transform raw materials, components, assemblies, and so on, into finished products, often involving processes organised into a production line.
Manufactured products are commonly made on a large scale before being distributed to customers, wholesalers, distributors, retailers and so on.
Manufacturing operations tend to utilise one of the following types of production:
- Make-to-stock (MTS): Goods are produced by predicting the market and producing regardless of orders being received. There is the risk that producing too much will result in needing to sell any surplus at a loss, whereas producing too little will result in not selling enough to maximise profit or even cover operating costs.
- Make-to-order (MTO): Goods are produced when orders are received, making it easier to control inventory. However, this can result in longer waiting times for clients, and a steady stream of orders is required otherwise production will stop.
- Make-to-assemble (MTA): Component parts are produced in anticipation of orders for assembly. This means the manufacturer is ready to fulfil orders, but it can result in a backlog of parts that are waiting to be used if demand is slower than anticipated.
Testing and certification can be used to verify quality.
Manufacturers must adhere to certain standards and regulations when producing their goods. For example, the Eco-Design for Energy-Related Products Regulations 2010 requires manufacturers to achieve minimum standards for the amount of energy regulated products consume. A declaration of conformity must be drawn up by the manufacturer or importer and the CE mark applied.
In the construction industry, manufacturers are often referred to as suppliers. For more information see: Suppliers.
NB The Code for Construction Product Information, Version 1.0, published by CCPI in September 2021 defines a manufacturer as: “any natural or legal person who manufactures a Construction Product, or has a Construction Product designed or manufactured and places it on the market under their own name or trademark”.
Designing Buildings Wiki has a range of articles relating to manufacturing, including:
- 3D printing in construction.
- Advanced manufacturing.
- British Standards Institution BSI.
- Buildability in construction.
- Building information modelling and its effect on computer aided manufacture in the UK construction industry.
- Circular economy.
- Computer aided manufacturing CAM.
- Demand for Off-Site Construction Continues to Increase in the UK’s Manufacturing Sector.
- How Computer Aided Manufacturing is Changing the World.
- Intelligent building management systems IBMS.
- Intermediate product.
- Kitemark.
- Lean construction.
- Life cycle assessment.
- Manufacturing better buildings.
- Mean lean green.
- Modern methods of construction.
- Offsite manufacturing.
- Offsite manufacturing and standardised design.
- Prefabrication.
- Product transparency declaration.
- Purchase orders.
- Quality control for construction works.
- Virtual reality and manufacturing.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
International Electrician Day, 10 June 2025
Celebrating the role of electrical engineers from André-Marie Amperè, today and for the future.
New guide for clients launched at Houses of Parliament
'There has never been a more important time for clients to step up and ...ask the right questions'
The impact of recycled slate tiles
Innovation across the decades.
EPC changes for existing buildings
Changes and their context as the new RdSAP methodology comes into use from 15 June.
Skills England publishes Sector skills needs assessments
Priority areas relating to the built environment highlighted and described in brief.
BSRIA HVAC Market Watch - May 2025 Edition
Heat Pump Market Outlook: Policy, Performance & Refrigerant Trends for 2025–2028.
Committing to EDI in construction with CIOB
Built Environment professional bodies deepen commitment to EDI with two new signatories: CIAT and CICES.
Government Grenfell progress report at a glance
Line by line recomendation overview, with links to more details.
An engaging and lively review of his professional life.
Sustainable heating for listed buildings
A problem that needs to be approached intelligently.
50th Golden anniversary ECA Edmundson apprentice award
Deadline for entries has been extended to Friday 27 June, so don't miss out!
CIAT at the London Festival of Architecture
Designing for Everyone: Breaking Barriers in Inclusive Architecture.
Mixed reactions to apprenticeship and skills reform 2025
A 'welcome shift' for some and a 'backwards step' for others.
Licensing construction in the UK
As the latest report and proposal to licence builders reaches Parliament.
Building Safety Alliance golden thread guidance
Extensive excel checklist of information with guidance document freely accessible.
Fair Payment Code and other payment initiatives
For fair and late payments, need to work together to add value.
Pre-planning delivery programmes and delay penalties
Proposed for housebuilders in government reform: Speeding Up Build Out.
High street health: converting a building for healthcare uses
The benefits of health centres acting as new anchor sites in the high street.