Machining and fabrication are both industrial terms that refer to the process of producing or constructing a product. Machining converts raw materials into a finished products via large-scale industrial operations, while fabrication assembles various standardized parts to make a finished product.

Fabrication is the process of making parts out of raw materials like sheet metal. Machine fabrication, in particular, involves techniques such as bending, punching, cutting, and welding. Machining encompasses a larger range of tactics that make use of other technologies.