The "process industry" refers to a branch of industry that converts raw materials or chemical substances into various end products using continuous or batch processing methods. Common industry examples include the chemical industry, the petrochemical industry, the food and beverage industry, the pharmaceutical industry and energy production.
In contrast to the discrete manufacturing industry, which produces individual parts or products, production in the process industry generally takes place in a continuous flow. In addition, complex chemical or physical changes often must be taken into account in the manufacturing processes.