Manufacturing in EVE Online lets you build everything: ammo, modules, ships, rigs, drones, and eventually Tech II/T3 items. It’s a core part of the game’s player-driven economy and a great way to generate ISK with a little planning and smart investing.
What Is Manufacturing?
Manufacturing is the process of turning blueprints and raw materials into usable in-game items. You set up jobs in stations or structures, wait for them to complete, and then sell or use what you’ve built.
You’ll Need:
- A blueprint (BPO or BPC)
- Materials (usually minerals)
- A station or player structure with a manufacturing facility
- Some skills (to speed things up and unlock more jobs)
Blueprints: Your Manufacturing Recipe
There are two types:
| Blueprint Type | Description |
|---|---|
| BPO (Original) | Permanent; can be researched for better efficiency. |
| BPC (Copy) | Limited number of runs; cheaper; often used for T2 production. |
For beginners, start with ammo, drones, or basic modules.
Where to get them:
- NPC stations (sell basic BPOs)
- Contracts (players sell BPCs)
- Exploration/Industry (BPCs from data sites)
Materials: What You Build With
Most manufacturing requires minerals, obtained from:
- Mining and reprocessing ore
- Buying from the market
Key minerals include:
- Tritanium
- Pyerite
- Mexallon
- Isogen
- Nocxium
- Zydrine
- Megacyte
There are other materials but the above are the basics gathered from mining
How to Manufacture – Step-by-Step
Here’s how to go from blueprint to finished product:
Step 1: Acquire a Blueprint
- Start with something simple (e.g. Antimatter Charge S, Hobgoblin I, or Small Shield Extender I).
Step 2: Get the Required Materials
- Right-click the blueprint > View in Industry to see what you need.
- Buy minerals from a market hub like Jita or Amarr.
Step 3: Use an Industry Facility
- Go to a station with manufacturing services (look for in the station services).
- Or use a player-owned structure (Upwell structure) with lower job fees (like an Engineering Complex).
Step 4: Start a Manufacturing Job
- Open the Industry window (
Alt + S). - Select the blueprint.
- Click Manufacturing tab.
- Choose the number of runs (e.g., 10 ammo batches).
- Make sure all materials are available.
- Click Start.
Wait for the job to finish (can be seconds to hours depending on the item and skills).
Skills to Train Early
You don’t need all these at once, but each helps you scale up:
| Skill | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Industry | Reduces manufacturing time. |
| Mass Production | Allows more simultaneous jobs. |
| Advanced Industry | Further reduces manufacturing time. |
| Supply Chain Management | Lets you start jobs remotely (useful later). |
Train Industry to level 3–4 and Mass Production to level 2–3 to get started comfortably.
Making Profit: What to Build?
Start simple and profitable. Ideal beginner items:
- Ammo: High demand, quick build, cheap.
- T1 Drones: Always in use.
- Meta 0 Modules: Fit for mission ships.
- Frigates: Especially useful in Faction Warfare space.
How to Check Profitability:
Use these third-party tools:
- Fuzzwork Blueprint Calculator
- Adam4EVE Industry Tools
- [EVE ISK per Hour (EVE IPH)] – Windows app
These let you input blueprint details, mineral prices, and job costs to see estimated profit per run.
Selling Your Products
Where and how you sell matters:
- Jita 4-4 (The Forge): Highest competition, but best volume.
- Amarr (Domain): Slightly less competitive.
- Regional trade hubs: Less volume but higher prices possible.
- Mission hubs (e.g., Dodixie): Great for selling ammo/drones.
Tip: Use Sell Orders, not Instant Sell. Set a price slightly under market average and wait.
Tracking Costs
To succeed long-term, understand your input and output:
| Cost Type | Includes |
|---|---|
| Material cost | Ore/minerals and/or BPC price |
| Job cost | Facility taxes, system index |
| Broker fee | Listing fee on market |
| Sales tax | Tax on successful sales |
Skills like Accounting and Broker Relations reduce market fees.
Beginner Project: Make and Sell Ammo
- Buy Antimatter Charge S BPO.
- Train Industry to level 2+.
- Buy enough Tritanium and Pyerite for 10 runs.
- Go to a station with manufacturing.
- Build the ammo.
- Sell in a mission hub like Dodixie or Jita.
What’s Next?
Once you’re comfortable, scale up:
- Move into Tech II manufacturing (requires Invention).
- Join an industry corp for access to low-tax structures.
- Set up buy orders for minerals to reduce cost.
- Explore Planetary Industry to supplement materials.
- Research your own BPOs for better efficiency.