North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Canada 2017 Version 3.0

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31-33 - Manufacturing

This sector comprises establishments primarily engaged in the chemical, mechanical or physical transformation of materials or substances into new products. These products may be finished, in the sense that they are ready to be used or consumed, or semi-finished, in the sense of becoming a raw material for an establishment to use in further manufacturing. Related activities, such as the assembly of the component parts of manufactured goods; the blending of materials; and the finishing of manufactured products by dyeing, heat-treating, plating and similar operations are also treated as manufacturing activities. Manufacturing establishments are known by a variety of trade designations, such as plants, factories or mills.

Manufacturing establishments may own the materials which they transform or they may transform materials owned by other establishments. Manufacturing may take place in factories or in workers' homes, using either machinery or hand tools.

Units that completely outsource the transformation process but own the input materials are classified to the manufacturing sector. Units that completely outsource the transformation process but do not own the materials are classified to merchant wholesalers in Sector 41 Wholesale trade. These units are in fact buying the completed goods from the producer with the intention to resell it. These units may design the goods being manufactured, and may have some say in the manufacturing process.

Certain activities involving the transformation of goods are classified in other sectors. Some examples are post-harvest activities of agricultural establishments, such as crop drying; logging; the beneficiating of mineral ores; the production of structures by construction establishments; and various activities conducted by retailers, such as meat cutting and the assembly of products such as bicycles and computers.

Sales branches or offices (but not retail stores) maintained by manufacturing, refining, or mining enterprises apart from their plants or mines for the purpose of marketing their products are included in Sector 41 Wholesale trade as merchant wholesalers.

321 - Wood product manufacturing

This subsector comprises establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing products from wood. There are three industry groups in this subsector, comprising establishments engaged in sawing logs into lumber and similar products, or preserving these products; making products that improve the natural characteristics of wood, by making veneers, plywood, reconstituted wood panel products or engineered wood assemblies; and making a diverse range of wood products, such as millwork.

  • Exclusion(s)

    • logging; and chipping logs in the field (See 113 Forestry and logging)
    • manufacturing wood kitchen cabinets and counters, and bathroom vanities (See 337 Furniture and related product manufacturing)
    • manufacturing wood pulp, paper and paper products (See 322 Paper manufacturing)
    • manufacturing wood signs and coffins (See 339 Miscellaneous manufacturing)

3211 - Sawmills and wood preservation

This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing boards, dimension lumber, timber, poles and ties from logs and bolts. These establishments produce lumber that may be rough, or dressed by a planing machine to achieve smoothness and uniformity of size, but is generally not further worked or shaped. Establishments that preserve wood are also included.

3212 - Veneer, plywood and engineered wood product manufacturing

This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing softwood and hardwood veneer and plywood; structural wood members, except lumber; and reconstituted wood panel products. Veneer is produced as a thin sheet of wood of uniform thickness by peeling or slicing logs. Plywood is produced by gluing and compressing together, three or more sheets of veneer, with the grain of alternate sheets usually laid crosswise. Structural wood members are made by laminating, joining and assembling wood components according to specified engineering design criteria. Reconstituted wood panel products are produced by processes involving pressure, adhesives and binders. The laminated products produced in this industry may have layers of materials other than wood.

3219 - Other wood product manufacturing

This industry group comprises establishments, not classified to any other industry group, primarily engaged in manufacturing wood products.

  • Exclusion(s)

    • manufacturing wood kitchen cabinets and counters, and bathroom vanities (See 3371 Household and institutional furniture and kitchen cabinet manufacturing)
    • manufacturing wood signs and coffins (See 3399 Other miscellaneous manufacturing)
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