Final answer:
The word 'manufacturing' refers to the process of transforming raw materials into finished products, and describes the transition of factories from producing military-related products during the war to consumer goods afterwards.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term manufacturing in the context of this text refers to the process by which raw materials are transformed into finished products. During and after the war, manufacturing was a critical process that transitioned from making military-related products to consumer goods. Factories that had been focused on producing tanks, aircraft, and weapons were retooled to create civilian products such as cars, washing machines, and radios which were now in high demand as the country shifted from a war-time to a peace-time economy.