Sub-products

Sub-products are items or outcomes derived as a secondary result, often unintentional, from the primary production process. They can be valuable or valueless, useful or useless. Essentially, sub-products represent byproducts or residual materials generated alongside the main product. Their creation is inherently linked to the main endeavor, whether it's manufacturing, research, or service delivery. Careful management of sub-products, particularly recycling, can offer economic and environmental benefits and reduce waste disposal costs.

Sub-products meaning with examples

• A sawmill produces lumber (the primary product) and sawdust as a sub-product. The sawdust can be used for animal bedding, fuel, or compost, improving the mill's resource efficiency and reducing waste disposal. Some sawmills even sell the sawdust, turning a byproduct into a small revenue stream, improving profitability.
• In the refining of crude oil to make gasoline and other fuels (the primary product), various other sub-products are generated, such as asphalt and lubricating oils. These materials are themselves commercially valuable products and contribute significantly to the overall profitability of the refinery. They may also be crucial to the operation of many other industries.
• When a business analyzes its customer data (primary process) to refine marketing strategies, a sub-product could be customer segmentation reports, customer profile reports or other forms of consumer based information. These sub-products can then be used to drive further marketing or provide key insights for future strategy.
• During the production of cheese (the primary product), whey is produced as a sub-product. Whey can be processed to extract proteins and other components, creating whey protein products sold to consumers. This secondary use of the sub-product can increase the efficiency of the overall operation as well as create a second revenue stream.
• In a construction project, the process of building a building (primary task) can generate sub-products such as concrete waste, unused metal or other materials. Effective waste management to recycle materials, turn the items into revenue, reduce disposal fees and minimize negative environmental impact is crucial to manage these sub-products.