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'''Materials''' are physical substances used as inputs to [[Production, costs, and pricing|production]] or [[manufacturing]]. [[Raw material]]s are first extracted or harvested from the earth and divided into a form that can be easily transported and stored, then processed to produce "semi-finished materials". These can be input into a new cycle of production and [[finishing]] processes to create "finished materials", ready for [[Distribution (business)|distribution]] and [[Consumption (economics)|consumption]].   

'''Material''' is any physical substance used in [[Production, costs, and pricing|production]] or [[manufacturing]]. [[Raw material]]s are first extracted or harvested from the earth and made into a form that can be easily transported and stored, then processed to produce "semi-finished materials". These can be input into a new cycle of production and [[finishing]] processes to create "finished materials", ready for [[Distribution (business)|distribution]] and [[Consumption (economics)|consumption]].   

An example of a raw material is [[cotton]], which can be processed into thread or used in the making of [[paper]]; further processing can yield garments or [[books]] respectively. [[Steelmaking]] is another example—raw materials are mined, refined and processed into [[steel]], a semi-finished material. Steel is then used as an input in many other industries to make finished products.

An example of a raw material is [[cotton]], which can be processed into thread or used in the making of [[paper]]; further processing can yield garments or [[books]] respectively. [[Steelmaking]] is another example—raw materials are mined, refined and processed into [[steel]], a semi-finished material. Steel is then used in many other industries to make finished products.

== See also ==

== See also ==