NAICS 332111

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the federal standard for organizing business establishments to support the collection, analysis, and publication of U.S. economic statistics. Developed under the Office of Management and Budget and adopted in 1997, the current U.S. vintage is 2022 and is used across Census Bureau economic programs as they transition through 2027. ¹

NAICS 332111 covers establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing iron and steel forgings from purchased iron and steel by hammering mill shapes. Establishments may perform cleaning and deburring on the forgings they produce; if they also further manufacture a specific finished product, classification shifts to the NAICS of that finished product. ²

See also on G2X:

• G2X — NAICS 332111 overview
• G2X — NAICS 332112 Nonferrous Forging
• G2X — NAICS 331111 Iron and Steel Mills

What this NAICS covers

• Iron and steel forgings produced from purchased iron and steel, formed by hammering mill shapes. ²
• Job or contract forging of iron and steel parts where inputs are purchased metal shapes rather than molten metal. ²
• Basic surface finishing operations performed by forging establishments, such as cleaning and deburring. ²
• Forging operations that do not occur within integrated primary metal mills (those are classified elsewhere). ²
• Classification in another NAICS when the establishment both forges and further manufactures a specific finished product (e.g., machining, assembling). ²
• Inclusion within Manufacturing Sector 31–33, Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing, rather than Primary Metal Manufacturing. ²

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Type	Code	Descriptor
NAICS	332112	Nonferrous Forging
NAICS	331111	Iron and Steel Mills
NAICS	336370	Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping
NAICS	332114	Custom Roll Forming

Industry boundaries and cross-references

• Iron and steel forgings made within integrated iron and steel mills are classified in 331111, not in 332111. ²
• Nonferrous forgings (e.g., aluminum, copper, nickel) are classified in 332112. ²
• Automotive stampings are classified under 336370 Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping, not within iron and steel forging. ³
• Within the Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing subsector, forging and stamping establishments may perform limited finishing (cleaning, deburring) on the products they make. ²

Frequently asked questions

• What activities define NAICS 332111?

  • Establishments primarily manufacture iron and steel forgings from purchased metal forms by hammering mill shapes. Limited surface finishing (cleaning, deburring) may be performed; extensive further manufacturing shifts classification to the finished product’s NAICS. The material basis is iron or steel using purchased shapes, not molten metal. ²

• How does 332111 differ from 332112?

  • 332111 is for iron and steel forgings. 332112 covers nonferrous forgings (e.g., aluminum, copper, nickel). Classification is based on the material forged and the use of purchased metal shapes, not casting from molten metal within a primary metal mill. ²

• Are machining or assembly services included under 332111?

  • No. If an establishment forges and then further manufactures a specific finished product (e.g., machining, assembling), classification is made to the NAICS of that finished product, not to 332111. Forging may be a step, but the primary activity is the final good produced. ²

• Where are forging operations inside integrated steel mills classified?

  • Iron and steel forgings produced within integrated iron and steel mills are classified in 331111, not in 332111. Integrated mills that melt and refine steel fall under the primary metal manufacturing NAICS. ²

• When did federal statistics begin using the 2022 NAICS vintage?

  • The Census Bureau began disseminating data on the 2022 NAICS basis with the 2022 Economic Census “First Look” in January 2024. Other economic programs are phasing in 2022 NAICS through 2027, per the official implementation timeline. ¹

Useful resources

• G2X — NAICS 332111 overview
• U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS 332111 Iron and Steel Forging (definition and cross-references): https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=332111&year=2022&details=332111
• U.S. Census Bureau — Implementation of the 2022 NAICS (timeline and adoption): https://www.census.gov/library/reference/code-lists/naics/2022/implementation-timeline.html
• U.S. Census Bureau — Manufacturing (Sectors 31–33) overview: https://www.census.gov/naics/?year=2022&title=Sector%2031-33%20--%20Manufacturing

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau. NAICS 2022 Implementation Timeline. https://www.census.gov/library/reference/code-lists/naics/2022/implementation-timeline.html
2. U.S. Census Bureau. NAICS 2022: 332111 Iron and Steel Forging. https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=332111&year=2022&details=332111
3. U.S. Census Bureau. NAICS 2022: 336370 Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping. https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=336370&year=2022&details=336370