halvfabrikata

Halvfabrikata are intermediate products obtained after part of the production process, positioned between raw materials and finished goods. They are intended for subsequent finishing, assembly, or processing into final products. They are common across manufacturing sectors and are often stocked to support production planning.

They include items such as metal billets, slabs, ingots, bars, sheets or coils; plastic extruded profiles, molded parts awaiting machining; wooden veneers or plywood panels; chemical intermediates. The term and inclusions vary by sector, but all halvfabrikata share the characteristic of being partially finished.

Benefits include enabling specialization, reducing changeovers, and allowing longer production runs. They can support just-in-time supply and more predictable capacity planning. Drawbacks include storage costs, risk of obsolescence, and the need for reliable demand forecasting and inventory management.

Management typically relies on a defined bill of materials and precise specifications. Halvfabrikata require traceability and quality control, and are often integrated into ERP or MRP systems. Lead times depend on the processing step, availability of equipment, and supplier performance.

Etymology and usage: In Danish and Norwegian, halvfabrikata refers to semi-finished goods; in German similar terms are Halbfabrikate. In English, the general term is semi-finished goods. The concept spans metal, plastics, wood, and textiles manufacturing.