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Entertainment • Television

How It's Made

How It's Made is a documentary television series about the manufacturing processes behind everyday products.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

How It's Made is a documentary television series that explores the manufacturing processes behind everyday products. It premiered in 2001 and was produced in Quebec for Discovery-related channels in Canada and the United States. The series ran until 2019.

Format

The series focuses on production processes for ordinary consumer and industrial items. It shows factories, machinery, and assembly steps while explaining how raw materials become finished products.

Broadcast history

How It's Made premiered on January 6, 2001. It aired in Canada on Discovery Channel and USA Network, and later on the Science Channel in the United States.

Production

The program was produced in Quebec by Productions MAJ, Inc. and Productions MAJ 2. Production ended in late 2018, with the final episode broadcast on March 24, 2019.

Content and subjects

Episodes covered a wide range of objects, including clothing, accessories, food, electronics, sporting goods, and other manufactured products. The show became known for mixing common items with unusual or specialized goods.

Key facts

  • The series explains how everyday items are manufactured.
  • Episodes typically feature multiple products from categories such as food, clothing, electronics, and industrial goods.
  • The show was produced in Quebec.
  • It ran from 2001 to 2019.
  • The series is known for its factory-footage format and straightforward narration.
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Canadian context

The series was produced in Quebec and originally aired in Canada on Discovery Channel and USA Network, making it a notable Canadian-produced factual television series.

Frequently asked questions

What is How It's Made about?
It is a documentary series that shows how everyday products are manufactured, using factory footage and narration.
When did How It's Made first air?
It premiered on January 6, 2001.
When did the series end?
Production ended in late 2018, and the final episode aired on March 24, 2019.
Where was How It's Made produced?
It was produced in Quebec by Productions MAJ, Inc. and Productions MAJ 2.
What kinds of products does it cover?
Episodes have covered items such as food, clothing, electronics, musical instruments, industrial products, and sporting goods.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_It%27s_Made
    Supports: Premiere date, format, production location, production companies, end date, and broad subject matter.
  2. TV Guide — https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/how-its-made/1030338078/
    Supports: Series dates, channel association, episode count/seasons, and documentary format.
  3. Common Sense Media — https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/how-its-made
    Supports: Premiere date, genre, network, and episode content overview.
  4. Discovery UK — https://www.discoveryuk.com/series/how-its-made/
    Supports: Description of the series focus on manufacturing processes and factory visits.