Fabrication is the process of making something from semi-finished or raw materials rather than from ready-made components. It is a value-added process that involves the creation of machines, parts, and structures from various raw materials. Fabrication shops bid on a job, usually based on engineering drawings, and if awarded the contract, build the product. Large fab shops employ a multitude of value-added processes, including welding, cutting, forming, and machining. The end products of fabrication may be called a fabrication, and shops specializing in this type of work are called fab shops.
It is important to note that fabrication is different from manufacturing. Manufacturing is the practice of putting raw materials through a process to create a finished product or part, whereas fabrication involves combining different parts to form a finished product.
In addition to its industrial meaning, the term "fabrication" can also refer to a lie or the deliberate misrepresentation of research results by inventing facts.
