How It's Made

How It's Made
Show name	How It's Made
Genre	Documentary
Narrated by	Multiple narrators
Country	Canada
Original language	English
Num episodes	300+
Runtime	10–20 minutes
Network	Science Channel

How It's Made is a Canadian documentary television series that documents the manufacturing processes of a wide variety of products, from everyday items to complex industrial machinery. The program presents step-by-step footage of factories and workshops, explaining stages of production, materials, and finishing processes in concise episodes. It has been broadcast internationally and adapted into multiple languages, influencing popular perceptions of industrial techniques and product origins.

Overview

The series debuted in Quebec and has connections to Canadian producers and broadcasters such as Télé-Québec, Discovery Channel (Canada), and the Science Channel, while international distribution has involved networks like BBC Two and NHK. Each segment typically focuses on a single product, juxtaposing footage from factories with voiceover narration and occasional interviews from engineers or technicians affiliated with firms such as Boeing, General Motors, Siemens, or Toyota. Viewers often see processes that occur in facilities owned by corporations including Procter & Gamble, Unilever, 3M, Philips, and Samsung Electronics, alongside smaller specialized workshops tied to artisans or manufacturers like Rolex, Harley-Davidson, or Le Creuset. The show's format emphasizes procedural clarity and visual continuity, echoing documentary traditions associated with series produced by organizations such as National Film Board of Canada and broadcasters like Channel 4.

Production Process

Episodes are assembled through location shoots at industrial sites and studios operated by production companies working with unions and agencies such as IATSE and regulatory bodies like Occupational Safety and Health Administration for U.S. shoots or Ministère du Travail (Québec) for Quebec locations. The editorial workflow involves pre-production research referencing patents filed with offices like the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the Canadian Intellectual Property Office, on-site cinematography using equipment from manufacturers such as Arri and RED Digital Cinema, and post-production editing with software from Adobe Systems or Avid Technology. Narration is recorded in studios sometimes affiliated with unions like SAG-AFTRA or broadcasters such as CBC/Radio-Canada, then mixed and color-graded to match brand standards used by distributors including Warner Bros. Television Distribution and BBC Studios.

Materials and Tools

Common materials featured include metals sourced through supply chains involving companies like ArcelorMittal, Norsk Hydro, and Alcoa; polymers produced by firms such as BASF, Dow Chemical Company, and DuPont; and ceramics and glass from industrial partners like Corning Incorporated and Schott AG. Tools and machinery shown range from CNC equipment and lathes made by manufacturers such as Haas Automation and DMG Mori to injection molding presses by firms like Arburg and Sumitomo (SHI) Demag. Fasteners and components often derive from suppliers such as Bosch and SKF, while measurement and metrology equipment comes from makers including Mitutoyo and Hexagon AB.

Safety and Quality Control

On-screen depictions of safety measures often reference standards and agencies including ISO 9001, ISO 14001, Underwriters Laboratories and regulatory frameworks administered by bodies like Health Canada or the European Commission. Personal protective equipment shown may be produced by corporations such as Honeywell, 3M and Ansell, and quality assurance procedures include testing using instruments from companies like Thermo Fisher Scientific and Mettler-Toledo. In many episodes plant managers cite audits and certifications from organizations like Bureau Veritas and SGS, while traceability and supply-chain compliance may involve systems aligned with guidelines from World Trade Organization and standards influenced by agencies such as Food and Drug Administration for applicable consumables.

Variations and Specializations

Segments illustrate variations across industries: automotive parts manufacturing referencing firms such as Ford Motor Company and Honda, aerospace components linked to Airbus and Lockheed Martin, consumer electronics featuring producers like Apple Inc. and Sony, and food processing involving companies such as Nestlé and PepsiCo. The show also explores artisanal and specialized crafts in workshops associated with names like Tiffany & Co., Stradivarius luthiers, and bespoke tailoring houses comparable to Savile Row firms. Regional specialization appears in episodes shot in manufacturing hubs including Shenzhen, Detroit, Birmingham (UK), Tokyo, and Stuttgart.

Economic and Environmental Impact

Episodes occasionally touch on economic themes by illustrating production scale and labor from multinational corporations like Amazon (company), Walmart suppliers, and contract manufacturers such as Foxconn, implicating regional development patterns observable in places like Zhejiang and Bavaria. Environmental considerations are shown through processes aiming to reduce emissions or waste, referencing technologies and initiatives associated with companies including Tesla, Inc., IKEA, Siemens Energy, and sustainability frameworks promoted by organizations like United Nations Environment Programme and standards from ISO. Recycling and circular-economy practices showcased may involve partners such as Veolia Environment and Suez (company).

Cultural and Media Influence

The series has influenced popular culture and education, inspiring content creators across platforms like YouTube, TED Conferences, and documentary producers at PBS and Vox Media. It has been parodied or referenced in programs on networks such as Comedy Central and Adult Swim, and discussed in academic contexts at institutions including Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Université de Montréal, and University of Oxford. The show's format informed museum exhibits and public outreach by organizations like Smithsonian Institution and Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago), and its footage has been used in instructional settings alongside materials from publishers such as Oxford University Press and Springer Nature.

Category:Canadian television series