NAICS 332710

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the federal standard for classifying business establishments to produce and publish statistics about the U.S. economy. Developed under the auspices of the Office of Management and Budget and adopted in 1997—through a joint effort of the ECPC, Statistics Canada, and Mexico’s INEGI—its current vintage is 2022. ¹
NAICS 332710 covers establishments known as machine shops that primarily machine metal parts on a job or order basis. Work is typically low volume, using machine tools such as lathes (including CNC), automatic screw machines, and machines for boring, grinding, and milling. Repair services fall outside this industry. ²

• See also on G2X:
  • G2X — NAICS 332710 overview
  • G2X — NAICS 332721 Precision Turned Product Manufacturing
  • G2X — NAICS 81131 Commercial and Industrial Machinery Repair and Maintenance

What this NAICS covers

• Job-order machining of metal parts for a wide range of end uses. ²
• Low-volume CNC turning, milling, and drilling operations performed in machine shops. ²
• Machining with automatic screw machines and turning centers for custom parts. ²
• Precision boring, surface and cylindrical grinding, and related subtractive processes. ²
• Custom part production for machinery and equipment when performed on a job or order basis. ²
• Prototype and short-run metal part fabrication via machine tools (non-mass production). ²

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Type	Code	Descriptor
NAICS	332721	Precision Turned Product Manufacturing
NAICS	332722	Bolt, Nut, Screw, Rivet, and Washer Manufacturing
NAICS	81131	Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance
NAICS	333999	All Other Miscellaneous General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing

Scope boundaries and cross-references

• Repairing industrial machinery and equipment is classified in 81131; it is not part of 332710. ²
• Manufacturing parts other than on a job or order basis is classified with the industry that makes the complete machinery/equipment, not in 332710. ²
• The definition of 333999 explicitly points job/shop-basis part manufacturing to 332710. ²
• Within Industry Group 3327, 332721 and 332722 are adjacent industries focused on precision turned products and industrial fasteners, respectively. ²

Illustrative machine tools and processes in scope

• Lathes, including computer numerically controlled (CNC) lathes/turning centers. ²
• Automatic screw machines used for custom, job-order work. ²
• Milling machines (vertical/horizontal) for low-volume machining. ²
• Boring machines and jig borers for precision hole-making. ²
• Grinding machines (surface, cylindrical) used to finish metal parts. ²

Frequently asked questions

• What does NAICS 332710 include?
  Establishments primarily engaged in machining metal parts on a job or order basis, generally in low volumes, using tools such as CNC lathes, automatic screw machines, mills, borers, and grinders. Repairs are excluded. ²

• How is 332710 different from 332721?
  332710 covers job-order machining (low volume). 332721 covers precision turned products, generally large-volume production using automatic screw machines, rotary transfer machines, or CNC turning centers. ²

• Are equipment repair and rebuild activities part of 332710?
  No. Repairing industrial machinery and equipment is classified in 81131, not in 332710. ²

• Where can official 2022 Economic Census data for 332710 be found?
  The 2022 Economic Census Manufacturing (Sector 31–33) tables are published on data.census.gov, with documentation and FTP access via the Census manufacturing sector page. ³

• Does 332710 cover nonmetal machining or additive manufacturing?
  The definition specifies machining of metal parts. Not specified by official sources. ²

Useful resources

• G2X — NAICS 332710 overview
• U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS sector page with the industry definition for 332710 and related industries. ²
• 2022 Economic Census — Manufacturing (Sector 31–33) data access page. ³
• Economic Census guidance — NAICS codes and understanding industry classification (2022). ⁴

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau — Classifying Businesses: NAICS development and 1997 OMB adoption (history overview). https://www.census.gov/about/history/historical-censuses-and-surveys/census-programs-surveys/economic/classifying-businesses.html
2. U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS sector content including 332710 definition and cross-references. https://www.census.gov/naics/resources/archives/sect31-33.html
3. U.S. Census Bureau — 2022 NAICS Sector 31–33: Manufacturing (Economic Census data and FTP access). https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2022/econ/economic-census/naics-sector-31-33.html
4. U.S. Census Bureau — Economic Census: NAICS Codes & Understanding Industry Classification Systems (2022 guidance). https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/economic-census/year/2022/technical-documentation/code-lists/understanding-naics-redirect.html