How It's Made

The programme investigates the production of nails, staples, safety glasses and bicycles, outlining the steps involved in each manufacturing line. It also charts how the techniques and processes behind these items have evolved over the years, reflecting advances in technology and materials.

The programme is an episode‑length documentary that focuses on the production of four everyday items – nails, staples, safety glasses and bicycles. It’s presented as a straightforward look at how these seemingly simple products are actually the result of sophisticated manufacturing processes, and it aims to give viewers a clear picture of what goes on behind the shop‑floor. In the core of the show, the manufacturing steps for each of the four items are laid out, with particular attention paid to how the techniques have evolved over the years. The episode walks through the way nails are forged, the method by which staples are formed, the process used to create safety glasses, and the assembly line that brings bicycles together. By tracing each product’s development, the programme highlights the incremental changes that have refined the way they’re made. The final sections of the episode point out that these advancements haven’t happened in isolation; improvements in one area often influence the others. It shows how new materials, better tooling and more efficient workflows have gradually reshaped the industry standards for all four products. Overall, the documentary provides a concise yet thorough overview of the technological progress that has shaped the way nails, staples, safety glasses and bicycles are produced today.