Fabrication and manufacturing are related but not the same. Fabrication focuses specifically on building and shaping raw materials—especially metals—into parts using processes like cutting, forming, and welding. Manufacturing is a broader term that includes fabrication plus other processes such as machining, casting, forging, finishing, assembly, and mass production. In simple terms, fabrication makes the parts, while manufacturing covers the complete production process of finished products at scale.

The three main steps to fabrication are cutting, forming, and assembling. First, raw material is cut to the required size using techniques such as laser cutting, plasma cutting, or shearing. Second, the cut material is formed into shape through bending, rolling, or stamping. Third, the formed parts are assembled and joined using welding, bolting, or fastening methods. These steps are standard in custom metal fabrication and precision fabrication projects.

The three primary types of fabrication are cutting, forming, and joining. Cutting removes material to get the right size and shape. Forming reshapes the material without removing it, using bending or rolling processes. Joining connects multiple fabricated parts together using welding, riveting, or bolting. These fabrication types are commonly used in industrial fabrication, steel fabrication, and heavy fabrication work.

The three steps to fabrication remain the same across most fabrication industries: cutting the raw material, forming it into the desired shape, and assembling or joining the parts into a finished component. This three-step fabrication process is the foundation of most metal fabrication and structural fabrication workflows.