halffabrikaat

Halffabrikaat is a Dutch term referring to a semi-finished product: a manufactured item that has undergone partial processing but is not yet ready for its final use. It serves as an intermediate good within production and supply chains, enabling further operations, assembly, or finishing before the final product is completed.

Semi-finished goods can take many forms, including blanks, castings, extrusions, sheets, or subassemblies that require additional processing. Common examples are a machined block awaiting final shaping, a sheet metal component awaiting welding and painting, or a fabric panel that still needs sewing into a garment. In inventory terminology, these items are often categorized as work-in-progress (WIP).

In manufacturing management, halffabrikaat support production flow by decoupling stages, allowing specialization, and enabling economies of scale. They also influence lead times, inventory levels, and capital tied up in stock. Quality control for semi-finished products focuses on process capability and dimensional tolerances relevant to the next production step, rather than the final appearance or function of the end product.

Terminology-wise, halffabrikaat is typically translated as semi-finished product, semi-manufactured product, or intermediate good. It is distinct from raw materials (unprocessed inputs) and finished goods (ready for sale or use). In lean and just-in-time systems, halffabrikaat are minimized but remain essential where different production stages are specialized or geographically separated.

Usage of the term can vary by industry and language, and in some contexts it may be used interchangeably with WIP or intermediate goods.