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Factory vs. Manufactory — What's the Difference?

By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 12, 2024
A factory is a large industrial site where goods are manufactured, often involving automated processes, while a manufactory refers to a place where goods are made, typically implying more manual or artisanal production.
Factory vs. Manufactory — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Factory and Manufactory

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Key Differences

Factories are modern industrial spaces equipped with heavy machinery and technology for mass production. They focus on producing large quantities of goods, often using assembly lines and automated processes to enhance efficiency and output. On the other hand, the term manufactory, although less commonly used today, traditionally refers to a place where products are manufactured, often suggesting a more manual, hands-on approach to production. This distinction points to the scale and technology level of the production process.
Factories, especially those from the Industrial Revolution onwards, utilize advanced technologies, automation, and a workforce that may not require specialized artisan skills for most of its operations. Whereas manufactories might emphasize craftsmanship, factories prioritize efficiency and uniformity. The evolution of manufacturing has seen a shift from smaller manufactories to larger factories. Early manufactories might have relied on skilled artisans to create goods by hand or with limited machinery.
Factories often have a more significant environmental impact due to their scale of operations, use of machinery, and resource consumption. They are designed to produce at a scale that often results in considerable waste and emissions. Manufactories, with their smaller scale and possibly less reliance on heavy machinery, might have a smaller environmental footprint. However, this distinction can vary widely depending on the specific practices and technologies employed in each case.
In terms of employment, factories typically offer a larger number of jobs, though these may be more repetitive and specialized due to the division of labor and mechanization. Manufactories, while potentially offering fewer positions, might provide roles that require a broader range of skills and more significant artisanal or craft expertise, reflecting a different kind of workforce engagement.
The choice between utilizing a factory or manufactory can depend on the business model, product type, and market demands. Luxury goods or specialized items might still be produced in settings reminiscent of traditional manufactories to emphasize quality, craftsmanship, and exclusivity. Meanwhile, everyday consumer goods are more efficiently produced in factories, where the focus is on meeting high demand at lower costs.
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Comparison Chart

Production Scale

Large-scale, mass production
Smaller scale, possibly artisanal

Technology Use

High automation and advanced machinery
More manual processes, less automation

Product Uniformity

High uniformity and standardization
Potential for unique, handcrafted items

Environmental Impact

Potentially higher due to scale and machinery
Generally lower, but varies by practice

Employment Type

Repetitive tasks, less need for artisan skills
Broader skill sets, artisanal craftsmanship

Compare with Definitions

Factory

Industrial site for mass production of goods.
The new car factory employs over 2,000 workers.

Manufactory

Place where goods are handcrafted or produced.
The leather goods manufactory prides itself on traditional techniques.

Factory

Large-scale production environment.
The chocolate factory produces thousands of bars each day.

Manufactory

Facility for producing specialized items.
The manufactory specializes in custom-made ceramic vases.

Factory

Facility using machinery and automation for manufacturing.
The factory has installed robotics to increase efficiency.

Manufactory

Smaller-scale production facility.
The manufactory produces artisanal cheese using local milk.

Factory

Place where workers assemble products.
Workers in the factory assemble electronics by hand and machine.

Manufactory

Historical term for a manufacturing site.
The 18th-century manufactory produced textiles for the entire region.

Factory

Industrial building for producing consumer goods.
The factory on the outskirts of town manufactures toys.

Manufactory

Site emphasizing craftsmanship in manufacturing.
Each piece from the manufactory is inspected for quality.

Factory

A factory, manufacturing plant or a production plant is an industrial site, often a complex consisting of several buildings filled with machinery, where workers manufacture items or operate machines which process each item into another. They are a critical part of modern economic production, with the majority of the world's goods being created or processed within factories.

Manufactory

A factory or manufacturing plant.

Factory

A building or group of buildings in which goods are manufactured; a plant.

Manufactory

(archaic) A manufacturing process; a particular industry or part of an industry.

Factory

See factory ship.

Manufactory

(archaic) A plant where something is manufactured; a factory.

Factory

A business establishment for commercial agents or factors in a foreign country.

Manufactory

(obsolete) Relating to manufacture.

Factory

The source of prolific production
A rock group that was a hit-tune factory.
A motel that served as an illegal drug factory.

Manufactory

Manufacture.

Factory

The position or state of being a factor.

Manufactory

A building or place where anything is manufactured; a factory.

Factory

A trading establishment, especially set up by merchants working in a foreign country.

Manufactory

Pertaining to manufacturing.

Factory

A building or other place where manufacturing takes place.
History has shown that, even without cheap labor, factories run perfectly well.

Manufactory

A plant consisting of buildings with facilities for manufacturing

Factory

A police station.

Factory

A device or process that produces or manufactures something.

Factory

A factory farm.
Chicken factory; pig factory

Factory

(programming) In a computer program or library, a function, method, etc. which creates an object.

Factory

Having come from the factory in the state it is currently in; original, stock.
See how there's another layer of metal there? That's not factory.

Factory

A house or place where factors, or commercial agents, reside, to transact business for their employers.

Factory

The body of factors in any place; as, a chaplain to a British factory.

Factory

A building, or collection of buildings, appropriated to the manufacture of goods; the place where workmen are employed in fabricating goods, wares, or utensils; a manufactory; as, a cotton factory.

Factory

A plant consisting of buildings with facilities for manufacturing

Common Curiosities

What is a manufactory?

A place where goods are made, often implying more manual or artisanal production methods.

What is a factory?

A large industrial site equipped with machinery for mass-producing goods.

How do factories differ from manufactories?

Factories focus on mass production using automation, while manufactories may involve more handcrafted or less automated processes.

Can a manufactory be considered a factory?

Yes, in a broad sense, as both involve manufacturing goods, but the term manufactory often connotes smaller scale and craftsmanship.

Is the quality of goods different between factories and manufactories?

It can be, with manufactories often associated with higher-quality, artisanal products, and factories with standardization.

Why might a business choose to produce goods in a manufactory?

To emphasize quality, craftsmanship, and the unique value of their products, especially in luxury or niche markets.

Why are factories more common than manufactories today?

Due to the efficiency, scalability, and cost-effectiveness of automated mass production in meeting high consumer demand.

Which has a greater environmental impact: factories or manufactories?

Factories, typically, due to their larger scale of operations, resource consumption, and waste production.

Can manufactories use modern technology?

Yes, many blend traditional craftsmanship with modern technologies for efficiency and quality enhancement.

Do factories offer more jobs than manufactories?

Generally, yes, due to their larger scale, though jobs in factories may be more specialized and less varied.

How has the role of factories evolved over time?

Factories have increasingly adopted automation and advanced technologies to enhance production efficiency and output.

What future trends might affect factories and manufactories?

Trends in automation, sustainability, and consumer demand for ethical production could shape the evolution of both.

Are there environmental regulations for factories and manufactories?

Yes, both must comply with environmental regulations, though the specifics and enforcement can vary widely.

Can artisanal products be made in factories?

Yes, some factories have specialized lines for artisanal or premium products, combining scale with craftsmanship.

How do consumer preferences impact factories and manufactories?

Consumer demand for sustainability, quality, and uniqueness can influence the balance between factory and manufactory production.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Fiza Rafique
Fiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat

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