Industry is the art of changing the forms and locations of matter to satisfy human wants. — Alfred Weber
5.1 Manufacturing: Definition and Significance
Secondary activities transform raw materials into finished or semi-finished goods. Manufacturing drives:
- Economic growth and employment
- Technological innovation
- Urbanisation and trade linkages
The share of manufacturing in GDP varies — high in China and Germany, declining relatively in post-industrial economies.
5.2 Classification of Industries
By size:
- Cottage/home — small scale, household labour (handicrafts, pottery)
- Small-scale — local markets, limited capital
- Large-scale — mass production, heavy investment
By input/material:
- Agro-based — sugar, textiles, food processing
- Mineral-based — iron and steel, cement, petrochemicals
- Forest-based — paper, furniture
- Animal-based — leather, woollen goods
By output: heavy (steel, machinery) vs. light (clothing, electronics)
5.3 Factors Affecting Location
| Factor | Influence |
|---|---|
| Raw materials | Weight-losing industries locate near sources |
| Energy | Power-intensive industries near coal/hydro |
| Labour | Skill levels and wage costs |
| Market | Perishable or bulky products near consumers |
| Transport | Accessibility reduces costs |
| Government policy | SEZs, subsidies, regulations |
Weber's least-cost theory — industries locate where transport and labour costs are minimised.
5.4 Major Industrial Regions
- North American — Great Lakes, northeastern USA
- European — Rhine-Ruhr, Midlands (UK), northern Italy
- East Asian — Japan, South Korea, eastern China
- Russian — Ural, Kuznetsk basin
Each region combines resources, transport networks, skilled labour, and historical advantage.
5.5 High-Tech and Post-Fordist Industry
- High-tech — electronics, biotechnology, aerospace; favours educated labour and R&D clusters (Silicon Valley)
- Post-Fordism — flexible production, just-in-time supply chains, global outsourcing
- Deindustrialisation — shift from manufacturing to services in advanced economies
Chapter Summary
- Secondary activities process raw materials into manufactured goods
- Industries classified by size, input, and output
- Location depends on materials, energy, labour, market, transport, and policy
- Major industrial regions in North America, Europe, and East Asia
- High-tech and flexible production define contemporary manufacturing
Exercises (NCERT)
- Exercise 1 — types and classification of manufacturing
- Exercise 2 — factors influencing industrial location
- Exercise 3 — major industrial regions and recent trends