Science & Industry

Good evening all,

I've been long-wanting to get into manufacturing and invention, but I've always felt like I didn't have enough resources to make any money. Having said that, if I were to make any profit it wouldn't be anything substantial but I'd be content with at least a 5% return for the time being until my process expands.

Currently, I own nearly 100 BPOs including all weapon turrets and ammo types, armor and shield rigs, frigates and destroyers, and a bunch of others. I've also been researching these BPOs to 10%/20% ME/TE.

Now, I certainly don't say anything of that to brag but rather to put my situation into perspective - I'm not quite sure where to go from there. I'd like to use the POSs in high-sec for now but I worry that the cost of fuel will be far more than I can make.

I guess I am asking how do you look around in markets to figure out what BPOs you should be manufacturing because I seriously doubt (and I could be wrong) hardly anyone places build orders with manufacturers for Tech I modules. That is to say... don't most people order Tech I modules on the market or through contracts?

I have some 2 million SP in production, and nearly 5 million SP in science - what are some steps I can take to make manufacturing/invention more profitable?

Not to sound condescending, but you're right... doing a bit of math for monthly fuel costs is not hard which is why I've already done the math and have a few figures - that's kind of why I am here asking for help trying to figure out how to sustain industrial operations that would allow me a profit margin.

Further... your explanation of choosing better things to manufacture couldn't have been more simple-minded. Anyone with an ounce of intellect can come to that determination... I was asking how do industrialists distinguish between meh modules and better modules for manufacturing.

Mostly:

Look at how many move per day, and what the isk/hr is.

Low isk/hr: make something else
Low movement: Probably make something else. Or only use a single line for it.

People think I'm being facetious when I say I build in Jita 4-4 but it is possible to build for profit there. It helps if you have a large collection of BPOs / BPCs and know what the build costs are for every item, understand how to read market history so you know what is selling at what price etc.

I like to have 10 of each BPO researched to 10/20 so I can jump in and out depending on the FOTM and also looking at the volume of sell orders on the market and weekly etc trade cycles.

Give it a try, extra build cost in Jita versus POS costs, may work for you.

Also, what Steve said :)

Edit : forgot to mention the reason I like having 10 of each BPO is my manufacturing alts all have 10 build and 10 invention/r7d slots so it makes it easy on calculations and managing slots

So you just brag on how well you do, yet that is most of what you'll get for answer. You want to be fed with a spoon what to build and where to sell?

If you are so intelligent as you claim you would not have made this topic. Do your research. Even if someone here would tell you the magic items, it would be less magic in a week.

I suggestion would be start manufacturing in a NPC station.
Get used to the routine, when things are getting a little dull because you know how to do it so well then setup a pos.

Production take less time in a pos this means you'll have to keep an eye on your supply and make sure you're getting enough materials to keep things going.

Don't try to do to much at once, take one thing at a time. If you try to do it all at once you'll either overwhelm yourself or find when it gets boring you have nothing new to introduce.

When you're pockets get quite deep you can challenge yourself doing capital ship construction.

When I help people sort out their production the most common issue I find is peoples organisation or the lack there of.
Either use 3rd party tools or your own spreadsheets, but organisation is key. If you aren't organised you are fall short of the people that are and know exactly how much they are making and how much they can afford to lose.

OP, congrats on setting some EVE goals and working towards them. After the Crius changes I think trying to have fun as the primary objective with manufacturing/invention is a good approach. It's more of a grind for smaller profit percentages now. The people making a lot of profit are probably getting the majority of it through trading knowledge.

I made a huge push into inventions skills last year but decided that I preferred making isk in other aspects of the game so I switched to using the skills & my BPO collection for my own needs -- ammo & modules for the ships I use. I like making the stuff I fly.

The point is that if you're enjoying what you're doing -- you're winning at EVE -- even at 5% profit.

-- Back on topic --

1) Have you downloaded Eve Isk Per Hour (IPH)? It is an essential tool. It has an overwhelming number of options but mostly you need to know how to:
- add a character and load your BPO collection.
- go to the 'update prices' tab. Check Raw Materials, Manufactured Items, Jita, Minimum Sell. Import Prices
- go to the "manufacturing list" tab. Select 'Owned BP's. Check T2 invented, Tech 1, Tech 2, Sort=SVR*IPH. Click Refresh

Look in the results tab to figure out what is profitable to build. Look at Profit, %, and SVR (to find turnover). The Isk Per Hour column become important when you are trying to run an efficient process.

Now try the above with "All Blueprints" to find BPO's which you might want to acquire.


2) Unfortunately, after Crius there is almost no reason for a new manufacturer to have a high-sec POS other than refining. I think CCP made a mistake because they removed a goal from the game. Be careful about storing BPO's in the POS.

3) Ammo is frequently suggested as a way to get started in manufacturing. Some of the T2 ammo is interesting. Prices tend to vary in and out of profitability from week to week.

4) An easier way to check BPO profitabilty than IPH is Blueprint Calculator

5) There are some big manufacturers around who like having people who will build their smaller components for them.

6) Knowledge of a local market will lead to easier profits than trying to sell in Jita.

7) Being able to build your own components (Linear Shield Emitters, R.A.M, etc.) can have a significant impact on profitability.

8) Rigs can be a profitable way to make isk if you are salvaging missions.

Good luck.