The difference between direct and indirect materials is that one leaves the production site and is part of the main product, whereas, the other is involved with the creation and manufacturing of the product. A direct material is the one which is part of the main product, such as a lid from a tin of food, as the lid will go with the finished product to be sold on to customers.
The alternative is the indirect material: Something that helps create the finished product, or helps contribute towards the creation of the direct material. An example of an indirect material is a drill or a piece of machinery that helps workers make the item. Despite the fact that the drill or piece of machinery was once a direct material in itself, this is overridden when the direct material is used to create another direct material and the item then becomes an indirect material.
An item that is involved with the creation of the product but is only a slight part of a finished product is still a direct material, such as a seat in a vehicle. This is because the piece still goes off with the rest of the finished product to be sold, unlike the tools that were used to create it. Other examples of indirect materials can be seen in the home: Anything that is used for home production, as in cleaning or decorating, can be seen as an indirect material, as it helps work towards a certain thing.
You can buy both direct and indirect items at your local superstore, or in general, from anywhere. It all depends what your desired finished product is, or whether you just wish to purchase something that is already a direct material.
The alternative is the indirect material: Something that helps create the finished product, or helps contribute towards the creation of the direct material. An example of an indirect material is a drill or a piece of machinery that helps workers make the item. Despite the fact that the drill or piece of machinery was once a direct material in itself, this is overridden when the direct material is used to create another direct material and the item then becomes an indirect material.
An item that is involved with the creation of the product but is only a slight part of a finished product is still a direct material, such as a seat in a vehicle. This is because the piece still goes off with the rest of the finished product to be sold, unlike the tools that were used to create it. Other examples of indirect materials can be seen in the home: Anything that is used for home production, as in cleaning or decorating, can be seen as an indirect material, as it helps work towards a certain thing.
You can buy both direct and indirect items at your local superstore, or in general, from anywhere. It all depends what your desired finished product is, or whether you just wish to purchase something that is already a direct material.
