How It's Made

The programme examines the production processes behind iron bathtubs, Hopi Kachina dolls, mine‑truck engines and memory cards, highlighting the techniques and craftsmanship required for each. It showcases how traditional artistry and modern engineering converge in the manufacturing of these varied objects.

The programme titled Iron Bathtubs/Hopi Kachina Dolls/Mine Truck Engine/Memory Cards is presented as a single episode that turns its attention to the way a range of objects are made. It brings together four very different items – from a heavy‑duty bathroom fixture to a traditional Native‑American figurine, from a massive piece of mining equipment to a compact piece of digital storage – and treats each as a case study in production. In the core of the episode the viewer is taken through the manufacture of iron bathtubs, the crafting of Hopi Kachina dolls, the assembly of mine‑truck engines and the fabrication of memory cards. Each segment follows the process from raw material to finished product, showing how the same basic idea of turning components into a usable whole applies across such varied fields. The show keeps the focus on the steps involved, the tools used and the skills required, whether the work is carried out in a foundry, a workshop, an industrial plant or a clean‑room environment. By juxtaposing a traditional hand‑made craft with high‑tech manufacturing, the episode highlights both the continuity and the contrast in how things are built. Overall, the episode offers a concise look at the practical side of production, giving viewers a clear sense of how everyday items and specialised equipment alike come into being through a series of deliberate, hands‑on processes.