Everywhere we look, we see fabricated metal products. From paper clips to HVAC housing, from car bodies to spiral staircases, countless products start out as metal stock that fabricators bend, punch, drill, grind, thread, and cut to produce various shapes. The metal fabrication process varies greatly depending on the material being machined, the rate of production, the desired geometry, and other physical requirements of the part or product.

For the purposes of this information resource, "machining" and "metal fabrication" are synonymous and refers to the activities and processes that change the shape of a metal workpiece by deforming it or removing metal from it.

This information resource details the many processes involved in the manufacture of complex metal parts. Many of these processes have an environmental impact. To mitigate that impact, this resource will also present pollution prevention opportunities and best management practices.