Manufacturing and production are often used interchangeably, but there is one key difference between the two. Manufacturing focuses more on the transformation of materials into usable products through processes such as molding and shaping, while production focuses more on creating a final product from raw materials. For example, in the manufacturing process, a factory might take sheets of metal and turn them into car parts using various machines; whereas in production, these parts would then be put together to create a finished vehicle. Manufacturing is essentially the first step in the production process, and both are necessary for businesses to remain competitive in their industries.