Filming manufacturing is a very tough thing. The sound is noisy, the lighting is difficult, the machines are fast and the message you want to deliver is in a facility designed for production and not filming. The companies that produce product manufacturing videos know all this before they come on the set, and it is this know-how that allows them to produce a successful film, as opposed to footage that is never used.

Manufacturing videos are in demand more and more, as supply chains become clearer and consumers become more interested in the production processes, the manufacturers are being hired with greater frequency than ever before.

This is why at Insignia Productions, we present this guide explaining what aspects you need to pay attention to when choosing a production partner, what a typical manufacturing of videos consists of, how briefing needs to be done and how to spend your production budget wisely.

Why Manufacturing Video Is a Distinct Discipline

Not all groups of video production are fulfilled with the means necessary for working in the field of industry. The technique required is currently beyond the basic filming skills.

The industrial places have safety rules which must be obeyed before any shooting is started. Personal protective tools are required, there are also places where movement is prohibited, excessive noises can physically make it impossible to record a perfect sound, while machines will not stop for the director’s convenience.

The problem of storytelling must also be addressed. The viewer who has never seen your production based on video will need an explanation of everything. Companies that produce product manufacturing videos know how to serve each of those audiences with the same footage, or know when to plan separate cuts for separate goals.

What Product Manufacturing Videos Are Used For

The most successful teams consider eventual usage beforehand as the aim determines every creative move made.

Process documentation shows how a product is produced and is used internally for training, quality auditing or compliance. It is more concerned with precision than cinematic appeal and is the format that is mostly requested by companies that produce product manufacturing videos demanded by operations and quality teams.

Brand and marketing films illustrate expertise, technologies and values incorporated into the product and aim at the end customers, partners and investors, stressing emotional appeal along with factual accuracy.

Product launch videos serve to present a new product to the market combining close up product images and factory footage.

Investor and due diligence materials reveal facilities and processes to stakeholders analyzing the operation while stressing accuracy, completeness and professionalism over creative elements.

Export and trade materials are required for international sales meaning that buyers should know how the plant looks like, what standards are met there, what production capacity is available.

Companies that produce product manufacturing videos can advise on which of these formats would suit your needs before the budget is allocated.

What Separates Strong Production Partners From Weak Ones

The differences become evident very fast once you begin to compare quotes.

Pre-production information: A good company will ask many questions about your facility, safety measures, potential audience and distribution plan before providing a quote. A company that just offers a standard quote without asking questions is giving you a hint of how they work.

Prior experience: Make sure to ask for previous examples of industrial projects. The necessary evidence is not only great quality but also the ability of the crew to deal with access challenges, PPE, sound issues, moving shots, lighting and others.

Technical versatility: The best companies that produce product manufacturing videos have specialized equipment designed for the environment i.e. broadcast quality cameras for low light, directional microphones and wireless kits for noisy factories, macro lenses for detailed shots, drones or cranes for overview filming and stabilizer rigs for filming while moving.

Post-production skills: Industrial video usually contains graphics, captions, motion tracking and subtitles. Make sure that the company has the necessary skills and experience.

How to Brief a Manufacturing Video Production

Preparation of a good brief is the best thing you can do to achieve the desired effect. Companies that produce product manufacturing videos function much better if they have knowledge of your goals, your audience, and your limitations from the first conversation.

A good brief is characterized by the following elements: the purpose of the video and the result you would like to achieve; the audience that is going to watch it and the platform through which it will be delivered; particular product or process that is filmed; things that can be ruled out for confidentiality, safety, or patent reasons; timing including production timing that would coincide with the active production processes; number of formats that would be needed; and presence of the brand assets like voice-over performers and music. 

The more detail you put in your brief the more precise will be the estimate and the fewer difficulties you will experience in the process.

The Role of Animation and Graphics in Manufacturing Content

Live action footage by itself is rarely enough to tell the whole story of manufacturing. The best manufacturing videos are those that combine footage from the location with graphics that articulate what cannot be captured on camera.

Motion graphics can depict the cross-sections of a product, the composition of materials, quality control tolerances, or flowcharts of different processes. Animation can recreate internal workings of certain mechanisms, help portray the processes on the molecular level, or simulate assembly movements that take place too quickly, at too small a scale, or take place in places off limits for the camera. Data overlays add measurements, temperatures, statistics, etc., that serve as guiding reference for the viewer, but do not disrupt video flow.

Companies that produce product manufacturing videos with their own top-notch post-production teams use these elements without any issues. In case you are availing services outside, don’t forget to check and make sure that visual communication is done consistently.

Working Across Time Zones and Borders

For international brands with manufacturing operations in multiple countries, choosing a production partner that understands cross-border logistics is important. Companies that produce product manufacturing videos for globally distributed clients need to manage different permit systems, safety standards, crew languages and delivery formats depending on where the facility is located.

At Insignia Productions Global, our film and content production teams have produced manufacturing and industrial content across Africa and internationally, managing everything from location logistics to final delivery. Our crew experience in Kenya and across the region means we understand both the creative demands and the practical realities of filming in complex environments.

Getting the Most From Your Production Investment

Creating videos has a value more than the regular amount of time that other business material lasts, which makes planning ahead a way of increasing your budget.

Consider the assets taking into account that the footage can be used for many purposes and can include a promotional clip, a video instruction, short clips for social networks, photographs, and other material that can be recorded in the shooting. Companies that produce product manufacturing videos with a reuse mindset build short lists that capture this range deliberately, rather than optimising only for the primary deliverable. Reviewing your past project examples before the brief is written is a practical way to see how this asset thinking plays out in practice.

Consider different options. It is not common for a single edit to suit all audiences. Instead, be aware of the fact that it is essential to design, starting from the very beginning, not only a cut for the public audience, but also a cut for training purposes and a version for social media. Doing so will allow the editing team to work according to a precise plan.

The best companies that produce product manufacturing videos become familiar with your facility, your brand and your standards over time. That familiarity pays dividends on the second and third project in ways that are difficult to put a price on.

Choosing Insignia Productions Global for Your Manufacturing Content

Insignia Productions Global is one of the companies that produce product manufacturing videos for the manufacturers, exporters and brand owners who need high-quality content. Insignia Productions Global works with directors, cinematographers, editors and post-production specialists who can perform in the field of filmmaking as well as conduct manufacturing communication.

Our work begins with in-depth briefings and site inspections, and each shooting is planned in accordance with the realities of your plant and business goals of your audience, not the convenience of the camera. As a result, the content produced will fulfill its task, be it signing of a contract with a retail chain, training a new employee or introducing a product to a new market.

To discuss your brief and receive a production plan tailored to your facility and your goals, get in touch with our team and we will respond within one business day.