This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in shaping hot metal by forging to produce a part near its final size and shape; or pressing and cutting sheet metal stock to form stampings. These establishments generally operate on a job or order basis, manufacturing metal stampings or forgings for sale to others or for inter-plant transfer. These establishments may surface-finish the forgings and stampings produced, by such activities as deburring and grinding, but they do not further process them.

This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing non-precious and precious plated cutlery and flatware. Establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing files and other hand and edge tools for metalworking, woodworking and general maintenance are included.

This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in fabricating metal products for structural or architectural purposes.

This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in cutting, forming and joining metal to manufacture products, such as power boilers, heat exchangers and tanks of heavy gauge metal, and cans, boxes and other light gauge metal containers.

This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing metal hardware.

This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing wire products made from purchased wire.

This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in operating machine shops, which use machine tools, such as lathes and automatic screw machines, for turning, boring, threading or otherwise shaping metal, to manufacture parts, other than complete machines, for the trade. Shops that set up to do production runs of industrial fasteners, such as bolts, nuts and screws, are included.

This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in coating, engraving, heat treating and similarly processing metal. These activities often involve heating the metal, and the purpose is often to harden it. In general, the hardening of metal is included. Other activities of this industry group include tempering, brazing, plating (including electroplating and re-chroming), polishing, sand-blasting and colouring metal and metal products. Establishments that perform these processes on other materials, such as plastics, in addition to metals, as well as establishments primarily engaged in plating with precious metal for the trade are included.

This industry group comprises establishments, not classified to any other industry group, primarily engaged in fabricating metal products.