Geography · Ch 5 — Secondary Activities
Small Scale Manufacturing
Small Scale Manufacturing
Small scale manufacturing sits between household industry and large-scale factory production. The key difference from household industry is not just size — it is about where and how the work happens. In household industry, the producer works inside or near the home (like a potter in his courtyard). In small scale manufacturing, the work shifts to a separate workshop outside the home.
This type of manufacturing relies on local raw materials, simple power-driven machines, and semi-skilled labour. Because the machines are power-driven (not hand-operated), output is higher than in household industry, but the scale remains modest. The workforce is semi-skilled — workers have some training but not the specialised expertise of a factory workforce.
The economic role of small scale manufacturing is significant. It provides employment to a large number of people, especially in developing countries. By generating jobs, it raises local purchasing power — meaning people in the area have more money to spend, which boosts the local economy.
For this reason, several populous developing countries have deliberately promoted labour-intensive small scale manufacturing. The textbook names four countries: India, China, Indonesia, and Brazil. These nations have large populations that need jobs, and small scale manufacturing absorbs many workers without requiring huge capital investment.
The textbook includes three figure references:
- Fig. 5.2 (a): a man making pots in his courtyard — an example of household industry in Nagaland
- Fig. 5.2 (b): a man weaving a bamboo basket by the roadside in Arunachal Pradesh
- Fig. 5.3: products of cottage industry on sale in Assam These figures illustrate the contrast between household/cottage industry (Figs. 5.2) and the sale of such products (Fig. 5.3). Small scale manufacturing, with its separate workshop and power-driven machines, is a step beyond these.
Key features of small scale manufacturing (as per the textbook): …
This black-and-white photograph shows a roadside stall in Assam where products from a cottage industry are being sold. The stall is a simple open structure, likely made of bamboo or wood, with a frame from which many woven items hang. You can see baskets of various shapes and sizes, lampshades, and small containers — all made from cane and bamboo — suspended from the roof or frame. More of these products are stacked on the ground in front of the stall, creating a dense display of handcrafted goods. A few people stand near the display, probably customers or the sellers themselves.
The image is placed in the section on Small Scale Manufacturing, right after the textbook distinguishes household industries from small scale manufacturing. The key point here is that this stall is not a household industry — it is a cottage industry product being sold at a market site. The products themselves are made in homes or small workshops (cottages) using local raw materials (cane and bamboo) and simple hand tools, not power-driven machines. The photograph illustrates the output of cottage industry: finished goods that are sold directly to consumers at a roadside location, often in rural or semi-urban areas of Assam. …