Smokestack industry refers to traditional heavy manufacturing sectors like steel production, chemical refining and automotive assembly. These facilities typically require massive capital investment, consume vast amounts of raw materials and energy, and historically produced significant airborne emissions. The term is often used to contrast traditional manufacturing with high-tech or clean-room production environments.
Heard on the job
We're trying to bring lean principles into a classic smokestack industry where change happens slowly.
Also heard as
- heavy industry