Manufacturing, handicraft, and process industries
Many people in the world are involved in micro and small scale enterprises (MSEs) manufacturing equipment and producing goods, often as a family based activity or small group on a semi-formal basis. These micro and small scale enterprises typically include small metal workshops, woodworking, textile production, consumer products and repair shops. They support other economic developments such as agricultural production and processing, using small scale equipment.
Topics
Metalworking and Blacksmithing
There are many simple techniques and approaches that can help people make better metal products.
Mining and Mineral Industries
Small-scale mining is labour intensive but it provides a source of income to a large number of men and women in...
Pottery and Ceramics
As a craft based activity pottery activities can be employed to make a wide range of products including the...
Textiles
Small-scale textiles and fabric manufacture is still an important income generating activity for many rural...
Wood and Bamboo
Woodworking and processing of bamboo enable a large range of products to be made from toys to elements in buildings....
General Resources
Appropriate Paper-Based Technology
There are many ways of making things out of waste paper and card, but they are not usually referred to as technology.
Candlemaking
This technical brief outlines the basics of candlemaking on a small scale looking as the process, the materials...
Design for a Simple Effective Baby Incubator
This baby incubator was the result of a search for a cheap simple and safe design suitable for Mvumi Hospital in...
Making Small Paint Brushes
There are three types of paint brushes suitable for small-scale manufacture, each using similar materials and...
Manufacturing The Donkey Cart and Ambulance
This document outlines some of the issues in making a donkey cart and a doneky cart ambulance.
Paper Making
Paper making is a good example of how small industry can be developed to make use of local resources and cater for...
Soap Making
This Technical Brief describes the procedures needed to make a variety of simple soaps and includes a number of...