Final answer:
Fabrication of metals is not a service operation since it is a manufacturing activity that results in physical goods, distinguishing it from service operations like retail trade or banking.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks which of the following is not a type of service operation:
- Retail trade
- Transportation and warehousing
- Fabrication of metals
- Banking
- Hotels and restaurants
Service operations are those activities that do not result in the ownership of physical goods but provide value in the form of services. Examples of service operations include retail trade, transportation and warehousing, banking, and hotels and restaurants. These involve elements of customer interaction, service delivery, and are typically intangible in nature. In contrast, Fabrication of metals is not a service operation; rather, it is a manufacturing activity that involves the transformation of raw materials into physical goods, which is a characteristic of industrial operations, not service operations.