Industrial Metabolism

The concept of industrial metabolism deals with the integration of physical processes which convert raw material, energy, and labor into finished products and wastes. Labor input and consumer output act as the human components or stabilizing controls of the processes.

The word metabolism "refers to the internal processes of a living organism that are necessary for the maintenance of life". There are many similarities between the biological and industrial processes both described with this word. They are both examples of "dissipative systems" which are self-stabilizing in a stable state.

A manufacturing enterprise or firm may also be described as a self-organizing entity, and the concept of industrial metabolism again applies. The industry may be described as a "balanced, quasi-stable collection of interdependent firms belonging to the same economy".(Eblen and Eblen, 1994, p. 365)

Compiled by

Joy Grillon jg2@cec.wustl.edu Last updated 11/13/94