Secondary Activities

Value Addition to Natural Resources by Secondary Activities:

• Cotton inside the ball has little utility, and it becomes even more valuable after it is turned into yarn and may be used to make clothing
• Iron ore can indeed be utilised directly out from the mines, but it gains value when processed into steel

Manufacturing:

It encompasses a wide range of manufacturing processes which range from handicrafts to the moulding of iron and steel and the stamping of plastic toys to the assembly of delicate computer components or spacecraft. The use of power, mass manufacturing of similar items, and specialised labour in industrial settings to create standardised commodities are all common aspects in each of these processes.

Light Industry: 

The light industry relies heavily on labour and does not require large quantities of raw materials or large production areas. It is also more concerned with producing for the end user rather than producing for other companies.

Light industries have a lower environmental impact than heavy industries and are more likely to be located near residential areas.

The term “light industry” refers to manufacturing activity that uses a moderate amount of partially processed products to produce goods with a relatively high price per unit weight.

Examples of light industries in the secondary sector

• Manufacturing of dog and cat food, milling and malting of flour and rice, breakfast cereal, chocolate and confectionery, frozen food, dried and dehydrated food, ice cream and frozen dessert manufacturing, and so on
• Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing, including soft drinks and ice, bottled water, wineries, breweries, and distilleries
• Textile mills include textile product mills, apparel manufacturing, leather manufacturing, and allied product manufacturing

Secondary-sector Heavy Industries

Heavy industry is defined as the production of large-scale goods through a large-scale manufacturing process. The use of capital is extensive in this industry. It makes use of a large number of raw materials, facilities, and production areas.

• Products made from petroleum and coal Manufacturing include the production of petroleum refineries, asphalt paving mixtures, asphalt shingles, and coating materials
• Petrochemical, industrial gas, synthetic dye and pigment, and ethyl alcohol manufacturing are all examples of chemical manufacturing
• In addition, pesticides, fertilisers, and other agricultural chemicals are manufactured
• Glass and glass-related products
• Production of cement and concrete
• Steel product manufacturing, alumina and aluminium production and processing, iron and steel mills and ferroalloy manufacturing
• Manufacturing of agricultural, construction, mining, and industrial machinery
• Transportation Devices Manufacturing includes the production of automobile bodies and trailers, aerospace products and parts, and ship and boat construction

Modern Large-Scale Manufacturing Characteristics

The specialisation of skills/ methods of production:

• The ‘craft’ technique requires manufacturers to make only a few made-to-order components and as a result, the costs are high
• Each worker does only one task repeatedly in mass manufacturing, resulting in enormous amounts of standardized parts

Mechanization:

• The term “mechanization” refers to the use of devices to do tasks
• Automation (manufacturing without the need for human thought) is the most advanced step of mechanization
• Autonomous factories incorporating feedback and closed-loop computerized control systems have risen worldwide, allowing machines to ‘think’

Technological Innovations:

Technological Innovations and advancements, as part of a research and development plan, are an essential part of the contemporary industry for quality control, waste elimination, and pollution reduction.

Organisational Structure and Stratification:

Modern manufacturing and Organisational Structure are characterized by:

• A sophisticated mechanical technology
• Extreme proficiency and division of labour allow for the production of more things with less effort and at a lower cost
• A substantial capital
• Large organizations
• Bureaucracy in the executive branch

Uneven Geographic Distribution:

• In a few countries, large numbers of modern-day industries have thrived
• These countries have risen to prominence as economic and political powerhouses
• On the other hand, some manufacturing sites are significantly less visible and focused on much smaller regions than agricultural sites due to the higher intensity of activities
• Industry earnings are maximized by lowering expenses
• As a result, industries should be placed where production costs are the lowest

Factors Responsible for Location of Industries

Access to Market:

• ‘Market’ refers to those who need to buy products and have the purchasing power (capacity to buy) to buy them from vendors in a specific location
• The essential determinant in the placement of industries is the availability of a market for manufactured goods
• Because of their excellent purchasing power, the developed areas of Europe, North America, Japan, and Australia provide to be enormous worldwide marketplaces
• South and Southeast Asia’s heavily populated areas also provide to be substantial marketplaces
• There is a worldwide market for some businesses, such as aeroplane production
• Global markets exist for the armaments business as well

Access to Raw Material:

• Industries should buy low-cost, easy-to-transport raw materials
• Steel, sugar, and cement businesses, for example, are dependent on inexpensive, bulky, and weight-losing material (ores) and are located near raw material sources
• Perishability is a vital feature for the sector to be located near the base of the raw material
• Agro-processing and dairy products are both manufactured near the sources of agricultural produce and milk supply

Access to Labour Supply:

• The availability of labour influences industry location
• Some industrial processes still need expert labour. Take, for example, the car business
• Industry’s reliance on labour has decreased as automation, robotics, efficiency, and adaptability of industrial applications have increased

Access to Source of Energy:

• Industries that consume more energy, like the aluminium sector, are placed near the source of energy
• Although coal was formerly the primary energy source, hydroelectric power and petroleum are now critical sources of energy for various businesses

Access to Communication and Transportation Facilities:

• For the growth of industries, quick and effective transportation infrastructure is required to deliver raw materials to the plant and completed items to the market
• The cost of transportation has a significant impact on where industrial units are located
• Western Europe & eastern Central America have well-developed transportation systems which have traditionally resulted in industrial concentration in these locations
• Transportation networks are inextricably linked to modern industry
• Transportation improvements have resulted in integrated economic growth and regional industry specialization
• Communication is also necessary for the interchange and management of information in industries

Government Policy:

• Governments implement regional policies to foster ‘balanced’ economic growth and, as a result, establish industries in certain areas

Access to Agglomeration Economies/Links between Industries:

• Nearness to leading industries and other industries benefits several industries
• Agglomeration economies are the name given to these advantages
• Savings are obtained through the interconnections that exist between various sectors

Footloose industries:

• They can be found in several locations
• Footloose industries are not dependent on any single source material
• They rely heavily on parts that can be found almost everywhere
• Footloose industries manufacture in tiny batches and employ a limited number of people
• These are often non-polluting businesses
• The road network’s accessibility is a critical component in Footloose industries’ location

Conclusion

The presence of a market for manufactured goods is the most important factor in industrial location. The term market’ refers to people who have a desire for these goods as well as the purchasing power (ability to purchase) to buy from sellers in a specific location. Small markets can be found in remote areas inhabited by a few people. Because of their high purchasing power, the developed regions of Europe, North America, Japan, and Australia provide large global markets. Large markets are also available in the densely populated regions of South and South-east Asia. Some industries, such as aerospace, have a global market. Global markets exist for the arms industry as well.