What is manufacturing?

Manufacturing is the process of producing items, usually in large quantities, so that companies and other entities can use or sell them. It’s a process that transforms raw materials and supplies into polished finished products before they head to the next step of their journey — whether that’s a consumer or another manufacturer that needs parts to create more complex products. A variety of different processes go into the overall activity of manufacturing, including product design, material sourcing and transportation, many of which utilize computing systems to function smoothly and fabricate a final product. Pause for a moment and look around — at the device in your hands or under your fingertips, those items on your desk or the countertop appliances in your kitchen — and you’ll see the end results of manufacturing hard at work.

Why should I learn about manufacturing?

In the interest of satiating your curiosity about how things are made — or in preparing to learn how to make those components in a formal role — studying manufacturing provides structure to your education in a variety of other fields, from research and development to importing and exporting. If you are already in manufacturing, you can grow your career faster if you learn about new manufacturing practices or technology. Whether you envision yourself one day inventing products to help others or you see yourself in a warehouse management role, learning about manufacturing builds a foundation to a variety of careers. It also forms an understanding that manufacturing is the basis of how most things we use regularly end up in our driveways, homes and hands.

What jobs can I get in manufacturing?

Because manufacturing involves the design and creation of so many different products, you could find a manufacturing job that matches your interests and/or skills. You might choose to work in the construction aspect of manufacturing, enjoying a job as a product assembler who builds each item. Or you might opt to put your keen eye for details to work as a quality inspector who ensures the finished products meet key standards and are ready to ship out to suppliers. Mechanical and other engineers, on the other hand, start at the beginning of the manufacturing process and design the products and machines that build them using special types of software. Even working as a technician who repairs manufacturing equipment may be an appealing career choice for you. The interests you develop and the skills you explore in online courses can help guide you to a role in manufacturing.

How can online courses on Coursera help me learn manufacturing?

If you're considering a career in manufacturing or a related area like supply-chain management, taking online courses introduces you to the fundamentals that are essential to learn before you advance to new levels. You’ll have the opportunity to discover different specializations, such as digital advancements in the manufacturing field and the exciting ways they’re changing and enhancing long-standing processes that have been essential to the industry for decades. Taking our online classes about manufacturing and related fields fosters a deeper understanding, too, of the ways this industry impacts the economy and gives you opportunities to reinforce your knowledge and solve problems with engaging projects.

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Manufacturing

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130 results for "manufacturing"

University of Michigan
Digital Technologies and the Future of Manufacturing
Skills you'll gain: Leadership and Management, Computer Architecture, Computer Networking, Internet Of Things, Software Engineering, Design and Product, Strategy and Operations, Entrepreneurship, Computer Graphics, Human Computer Interaction, Interactive Design, Network Architecture, Marketing, Brand Management, Operations Management, Product Management, Sales, Strategy, Business Analysis, Business Psychology, Business Transformation, Cloud Computing, Cloud Infrastructure, Organizational Development, Probability & Statistics
4.5
(119 reviews)
Beginner · Specialization · 1-3 Months
University of Michigan
Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)
Skills you'll gain: Computer Architecture, Computer Networking, Internet Of Things, Software Engineering, Computer Graphics, Human Computer Interaction, Interactive Design, Network Architecture, Leadership and Management, Business Analysis, Business Psychology, Business Transformation, Cloud Computing, Cloud Infrastructure, Entrepreneurship, Organizational Development, Probability & Statistics
4.5
(67 reviews)
Beginner · Course · 1-4 Weeks
Free
University at Buffalo
Digital Manufacturing & Design Technology
Skills you'll gain: Strategy and Operations, Design and Product, Entrepreneurship, Product Lifecycle, Leadership and Management, Software Engineering, Marketing, Product Management, Computer Architecture, Computer Graphics, Computer Networking, Data Analysis, Human Computer Interaction, Interactive Design, Supply Chain and Logistics, Business Analysis, Cloud Computing, Process Analysis, Supply Chain Systems, Big Data, Data Management, Security Strategy, Product Design, Sales, Security Engineering, Strategy, Cloud Storage, Network Architecture, Application Development, Bioinformatics, Business Communication, Business Process Management, Cloud Infrastructure, Communication, Computer Security Incident Management, Finance, Internet Of Things, Inventory Management, Operating Systems, Probability & Statistics, Product Development, Product Strategy, Risk Management, Social Media, Software As A Service, System Security, Basic Descriptive Statistics, Machine Learning
4.6
(6.4k reviews)
Beginner · Specialization · 3-6 Months
University at Buffalo
Advanced Manufacturing Process Analysis
Skills you'll gain: Computer Architecture, Computer Graphics, Data Analysis, Entrepreneurship, Human Computer Interaction, Interactive Design, Software Engineering, Big Data, Business Analysis, Computer Networking, Cloud Computing, Data Management, Network Architecture, Process Analysis, Internet Of Things
4.6
(1.1k reviews)
Beginner · Course · 1-4 Weeks
Georgia Institute of Technology
Supply Chain Principles
Skills you'll gain: Material Handling, Supply Chain Systems, Supply Chain and Logistics, Communication, Forecasting, Probability & Statistics, Customer Support, Entrepreneurship, Leadership and Management, Planning, Procurement, Shipping and Receiving, Supplier Relationship Management, Transportation Operations Management, Warehouse Management, Facility Management, Inventory Management, Operations Management, Strategy and Operations, Budget Management, Customer Relationship Management, Design and Product, Finance, Marketing, Negotiation, Performance Management, Product Lifecycle, Sales
4.6
(1.9k reviews)
Mixed · Course · 1-3 Months
Free

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sensor manufacturing and process control

In summary, here are 10 of our most popular manufacturing courses

Process Improvement: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Digital Technologies and the Future of Manufacturing: University of Michigan
Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT): University of Michigan
Industrial Biotechnology: University of Manchester
Digital Manufacturing & Design Technology: University at Buffalo
Advanced Manufacturing Process Analysis: University at Buffalo
Digital Manufacturing & Design: University at Buffalo
Supply Chain Principles: Georgia Institute of Technology
Autonomous AI for Industry: University of Washington
Materials Science: 10 Things Every Engineer Should Know: University of California, Davis

Skills you can learn in Business Essentials

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Leadership (15)

Frequently Asked Questions about Manufacturing

Manufacturing is the process of producing items, usually in large quantities, so that companies and other entities can use or sell them. It’s a process that transforms raw materials and supplies into polished finished products before they head to the next step of their journey — whether that’s a consumer or another manufacturer that needs parts to create more complex products. A variety of different processes go into the overall activity of manufacturing, including product design, material sourcing and transportation, many of which utilize computing systems to function smoothly and fabricate a final product. Pause for a moment and look around — at the device in your hands or under your fingertips, those items on your desk or the countertop appliances in your kitchen — and you’ll see the end results of manufacturing hard at work.‎
In the interest of satiating your curiosity about how things are made — or in preparing to learn how to make those components in a formal role — studying manufacturing provides structure to your education in a variety of other fields, from research and development to importing and exporting. If you are already in manufacturing, you can grow your career faster if you learn about new manufacturing practices or technology. Whether you envision yourself one day inventing products to help others or you see yourself in a warehouse management role, learning about manufacturing builds a foundation to a variety of careers. It also forms an understanding that manufacturing is the basis of how most things we use regularly end up in our driveways, homes and hands.‎
Because manufacturing involves the design and creation of so many different products, you could find a manufacturing job that matches your interests and/or skills. You might choose to work in the construction aspect of manufacturing, enjoying a job as a product assembler who builds each item. Or you might opt to put your keen eye for details to work as a quality inspector who ensures the finished products meet key standards and are ready to ship out to suppliers. Mechanical and other engineers, on the other hand, start at the beginning of the manufacturing process and design the products and machines that build them using special types of software. Even working as a technician who repairs manufacturing equipment may be an appealing career choice for you. The interests you develop and the skills you explore in online courses can help guide you to a role in manufacturing.‎
If you're considering a career in manufacturing or a related area like supply-chain management, taking online courses introduces you to the fundamentals that are essential to learn before you advance to new levels. You’ll have the opportunity to discover different specializations, such as digital advancements in the manufacturing field and the exciting ways they’re changing and enhancing long-standing processes that have been essential to the industry for decades. Taking our online classes about manufacturing and related fields fosters a deeper understanding, too, of the ways this industry impacts the economy and gives you opportunities to reinforce your knowledge and solve problems with engaging projects.‎

This FAQ content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

Filter by

130 results for "manufacturing"

Process Improvement

Digital Technologies and the Future of Manufacturing

Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)

Industrial Biotechnology

Digital Manufacturing & Design Technology

Advanced Manufacturing Process Analysis

Digital Manufacturing & Design

Supply Chain Principles

Autonomous AI for Industry

Materials Science: 10 Things Every Engineer Should Know

Statistical Thinking for Industrial Problem Solving, presented by JMP

Introduction to CAD, CAM, and Practical CNC Machining

Searches related to manufacturing

In summary, here are 10 of our most popular manufacturing courses

Skills you can learn in Business Essentials

Frequently Asked Questions about Manufacturing

What is manufacturing?‎

Why should I learn about manufacturing?‎

What jobs can I get in manufacturing?‎

How can online courses on Coursera help me learn manufacturing?‎

Start or advance your career

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Filter by

130 results for "manufacturing"

Searches related to manufacturing

In summary, here are 10 of our most popular manufacturing courses

Skills you can learn in Business Essentials

Frequently Asked Questions about Manufacturing

What is manufacturing?‎

Why should I learn about manufacturing?‎

What jobs can I get in manufacturing?‎

How can online courses on Coursera help me learn manufacturing?‎

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Earn a degree or certificate online

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