HKDSE Geography/M3/Manufacturing System

Inputs
Inputs of a manufacturing system are diverse. (Here, the economic classification of 'land, labour, capital, entrepreneurship' is used.)
 * Land
 * Raw materials
 * Power


 * Labour supply (skilled? unskilled?)


 * Fixed capital
 * Working capital


 * Venture capital
 * Management


 * Technology
 * Government policies/Institutional factors
 * Markets

Processes
For manufacturing system, the main processes are:
 * Processing - making raw materials ready, e.g. iron and steel making, aluminium smelting industry
 * Fabrication - making final goods directly from raw materials
 * Assembly - making final goods from intermediate goods

Output
The outputs include:
 * Useful outputs: Finished products, which are sold in the market for money.
 * Useless outputs, such as solid waste, polluted air, etc.

Money is used to buy more inputs. This results in a positive feedback loop.