The specialization of production is the social division of labor, expressed in the division of old branches of production, labor of workers within the industry and the creation of new industries. Its deepening is manifested by the deepening social character of any production. It is believed that the specialization of production is essentially an almost endless process, as well as scientific and technological progress. It is this progress and the increase in the scale of production that are the most important factors for its deepening. This process is characteristic of all branches of production and the unproductive sphere. With an increase in the number of separate, independent industries, the production of various products is divided, as well as the nomenclature of products of the same type is reduced in the process of increasing the scale of its production at those enterprises that together form a specific industry.
The specialization of production in any industry is complemented by the specialization of its constituent enterprises in the production of technologically and structurally similar products. Its most important feature is the type of manufactured marketable product. A general indicator of industry specialization is the growth in the number of separate, independent industries, most of which include different sub-sectors and industrial production. An increase in the number of such special industries is carried out not only in the process of separation of production of heterogeneous finished products, but also in the process of individual parts and details of finished products, some operations during the manufacturing process.
The specialization of production, depending on which of the groups of industries is being isolated in an independent industry, is divided into the following main types:
1. Subject (engineering and automobile plants, sewing and shoe factories).
2. Details (factories of automobile pistons, ball bearings, building parts, fasteners).
3. Stage or technological (forging, foundry, assembly production).
The most widespread is the specialization of the first type - subject. In mechanical engineering, the most developed is the detailed specialization. The transformation of factories with subject specialization into enterprises that are characterized by an assembly type of production involves the creation of a developed network of enterprises with technological and detail specialization.
Agricultural specialization of production takes into account social, economic, demographic factors, as well as the specifics of this production (biological properties of animals and plants, natural conditions, features of land cultivation, labor and material resources, vehicles). That is why a large number of farms are combined enterprises in which there are several industries with different economic importance. At the same time, the main commodity sectors are distinguished, which are provided with preferential development, and additional, which have a small share in the manufactured commodity products. In agricultural production, there are also auxiliary and service industries and industries.
The material basis for the specialization of production is the division of tools. Its development is carried out in conjunction with the formation of technologies, an increase in the scale of production, an increase in the product range, unification of parts, standardization of products, and professional division of labor.
The international specialization of production is the basis of the geographical division of social labor. It appeared back in the days of the first farms producing commodity products and the beginning of commodity exchange. Currently, it is being implemented through the foreign trade of states.